By Steve Sherack
The 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival–held for the second straight year at Saratoga Race Course while the transformation of the new Belmont Park continues–begins with a 10-race program saluting New York-breds on Wednesday.
'New York Showcase Day' will feature six $200,000 stakes races exclusively for New York-breds–the Bouwerie S., Commentator S., Critical Eye S., Kingston S., Mike Lee S. and Mount Vernon S. Morning-line favorites for the six stakes races are as follows: Kay Cup (Instagrand) (Bouwerie) (9-5); Bank Frenzy (Central Banker) (Commentator) (7-5); Sterling Silver (Cupid) (Critical Eye) (1-1); Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause) (Kingston) (2-1); Mo Plex (Complexity) (Mike Lee) (2-1); and Silver Skillet (Liam's Map) (Mount Vernon) (3-1).
“Kicking off this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with New York Showcase Day is a great opportunity for fans and our program participants to experience the quality and talent of New York's breeding and racing industry,” New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson said.
Admission gates open at 11 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:40 p.m for the GI Beverly R. Steinman Hurdle H. over the fences. The first 10,000 fans to enter with paid admission will receive a free, white baseball cap featuring the NYTB and 2025 Belmont Stakes logos.
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival–featuring 27 stakes races with purses totaling $11.275 million, led by the 157th renewal of the GI Belmont Stakes–will take place from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.
Graded action gets underway on Thursday's 10-race program with the grassy GII Intercontinental S. and GIII Poker S. The Intercontinental includes the GIII Giant's Causeway S. re-opposing one-two-three, led by 2024 Intercontinental winner Future Is Now (Great Notion).
America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on the networks of FOX Sports.
Future Is Now (middle) winning the 2024 Intercontinental in a wild finish | Sarah Andrew
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