Belmont Park (c) NYRA/Adam Mooshian/Adam Coglianese Photography

by Dick Powell

RACE 2

The New York-bred stakes action for Saturday’s Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park kicks off in the 2ND race – the Iroquois Stakes for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

PICCO UNO (#10) (9-2) draws outside but has enough gate speed to use it to her best advantage. In last year’s renewal, she was cooked in a speed duel from post 1 but Irad Ortiz Jr. should be able to get her to relax from here. The horse for the course won on this track two starts back in fast time and Jason Servis wins 28 percent off medium rest.

PAUSEFORTHECAUSE (#1) (8-1) has won her last two starts by wide margins and now takes on stakes company. HIGHWAY STAR (#5) (5-2) has plenty of back class.

Win: #10
Exacta: #1, #5 with #10

RACE 3

Race 3 is the Mohawk Stakes for New York-breds going 1 1/16 miles on the Widener turf course. Chad Brown sends out OFFERING PLAN (#11) (8-5) off two good seconds against similar stakes company and should appreciate the move to the Widener. She was gaining last out behind BLACK TIDE (#9) (3-1), who went gate to wire on the inner turf course. Those two look like they will be able to separate themselves from the rest.

Exacta Box: #9, #11