10/18 (Belmont) Empire Classic
 

10th (5:47) Empire Classic Handicap.

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $250,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML

1 R Clear Victory - Hill C Asmussen Steven M 121 L 4-1
2 Stunt Man - Dominguez R A Contessa Gary C 115 L 20-1
3 Almighty Silver - Carr D Baker Charlton 114 Blk-On L 15-1
4 Spanky Fischbein - Coa E M Brown Chad C 114 L 6-1
5 Stud Muffin - Garcia Alan Duggan David P 120 L 6-1
6 Raffie's Treasure - Desormeaux K J Galluscio Dominic G 114 L 20-1
7 Lorccan - Sanchez J Ferraro James W 117 L 10-1
8 Tommasi - Maragh R Bond Harold James 120 L 7-2
9 Love Abroad - Lezcano J Hertler John O 113 L 50-1
10 Chowder's First - Migliore R Serpe Philip M 114 L 30-1
11 Dr. D. F. C. - Arboleda A Ubillo Rodrigo A 120 L 8-1
12 That'srightofficer - Prado E S Schosberg Richard 114 L 6-1


Past Performances: http://www.drf.com/row/pps/08BELempireclassic.pdf

This looks like a really good betting race.

The whole card is fantastic. Go DFC :tro:

If the connections of Spanky, Raffie, and R Clear Victory are all planning on trying to wire the field, it might be possible that the race could set up nicely for him.

Thatsrightofficer has been running very well . And the distance suits him.

After looking at this race for awhile, I think it is hard to get away from Tommasi. His last couple at this distance have been great efforts, the barn is on fire, and he has been working extremely well. I like him on top. After that it is tough, but the one horse that will probably take some money that I really DON"T like here is Spanky Fischbein. I think it is pretty unlikely that he hangs around to hit the board at this distance.
I'm probably going to play a 5-11 exacta box also, because I could see the pace of this one being relatively quick and setting up for both Stud Muffin and Dr. D.F.C.

My $20 play is:
$1 Tri: 8 / 1,5,7,11 / 1,5,7,11,12
$2 Ex Box: 5-11

Closers came running.
http://equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/BEL101808USA10.pdf

Amazingly, Stud Muffin is the 3rd consecutive son of NY sire Raffie's Majesty to win the Empire Classic .

I like the fact that the connections took a longshot flier with Raffie's Treasure to pull off the full sibling triple with her brothers winning in '06 and '07. Didn't pay off but she really didn't have anywhere else to run yesterday anyways.