Pat On the Back, Mr. Buff clash to headline Empire Showcase Day
A total of 96 New York-breds are entered for an 11-race card on Saturday at Belmont Park to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth $1.75 million, topped by the $300,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles.
Defending champion Pat On the Back leads a field of five in the 44th running of the Empire Classic, looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Spite the Devil in 2004-05.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart for owners Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables, the 5-year-old Congrats chestnut, bred by Sugar Maple Farm, gained millionaire and graded stakes-winner status last out with a half-length score in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap.
Pat On the Back, who boasts a record of 6-3-2 from 11 starts on Big Sandy, had won seven stakes against fellow New York-breds heading into the Kelso, where he prevailed to make the grade in his 26th career start.
Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 3.
Standing in the way of a repeat victory in the Empire Classic is the formidable presence of Chester and Mary Broman's Mr. Buff. Trained by John Kimmel, the Friend Or Foe chestnut stands at 17.2 hands and has utilized his leggy frame to a record of 10-6-4 from 31 starts.
Mr. Buff breezed in company with Sleepy Hollow contender Harris Bay on Saturday, covering four furlongs in 47.83 seconds on the Belmont main track.
"I thought it was a really nice work. I work Mr. Buff by himself most of the time but I know we have a big battle on our hands to try and beat Pat on the Back so I want to have him pretty sharp," said Kimmel. "They worked really nice. I had them in 48 and 1:01 and out in 1:15. In company, he [Mr. Buff] gets pretty strong. It was a good breeze."
A four-time stakes winner, Mr. Buff muscled his way to victory in the 2018 Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct Racetrack, in addition to scores this season on all three NYRA tracks including the Jazil at the Big A, the Saginaw at Belmont and the Evan Shipman at Saratoga Race Course. Last out, Mr. Buff was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Woodward presented by NYRA Bets.
Junior Alvarado has the call from post 4.
Rounding out the Empire Classic field, set for Race 5 on the 11-race card, are Blugrascat's Smile [Rajiv Maragh, post 1], Dynamix Prime [Manny Franco, post 2] and Not That Brady [Luis Saez, post 5].
Gates will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the first race scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Eastern.