One final showcase for the NY-breds this afternoon at Belmont, with 11 races beginning at 12:25 ET, eight of them of the stakes variety.  

There are very few scratches on the card, which will be contested over fast & firm conditions.  

The feature is the Empire Classic, which will be run as race #5. 

 The 3yo Twisted Tom is the ML favorite as he steps up in class looking for his third straight win, and sixth from seven starts this year.  His lone loss came in the Belmont Stakes. 

He is facing his toughest test yet today in the face of some solid older horses, but the reality is that this Empire Classic didn't come up nearly as tough as it could have.  

The horse to beat, no disrespect to the 3yo, is probably Governor Malibu.  A multiple graded stakes-placed 3yo last year, Governor Malibu is looking for his first win of what has been a disappointing year this afternoon.  

There have been some excuses along the way in 2017, and the fact that he has only managed four starts to this point likely points to some behind the scenes issues, but he appears to be in a position to salvage something of the year in this race. 

It seems pretty tough to get beyond the two favorites, though horses like Papa Shot, Control Group, and Testosterstone have had nice campaigns in 2017 and wouldn't be total shockers in this race.  Last year's winner, Royal Posse, has been badly off form this year but he is back to defend his title.  

The Mohawk (Race 9) for older turf horses is missing the mainstays of the division, and also misses its current leader in Get Jets, which leaves Chad Brown's Offering Plan in a strong position as he drops out of a spin in the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile two weeks ago at Keeneland.   

If he doesn't win, it is likely because he was wired by the speedy Black Tide, who is dangerous on the front-end but will need his absolute best to prevail.  

I thought the 3yo filly Bonita Bianca had a chance to upset the Empire Distaff (Race 10).  She has won four of her five career starts vs. NY-breds, with the lone loss coming at Saratoga where she had no choice but to chase the heavily-favored Sunset Ridge in a paceless race.  

Verdant Pastures, another 3yo, is the horse to beat assuming she can repeat her last race, where she blew out allowance rivals on the front-end with an 88 Beyer.  It's not clear at this point that she is actually that kind of horse, but she might be, and if she is she is a likely winner.  

The most competitive race may be the Hudson, for dirt sprinters.  

I am betting Gold for the King, who was perhaps the top sprinter in his division earlier this year before being pointed to the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day.  He actually acquitted himself pretty well in that spot, and in his only two starts since he was done in by a wide trip in a short field at Finger Lakes, and then tried to stretch out vs. Twisted Tom in the NY Derby.  

The Ticonderoga (Race 4), for older fillies and mares on turf, is another race that is missing the division leaders. 

Chad Brown's Fifty Five is a 3yo facing older horses for the first time, but she is also dropping out of several graded stakes races where she held her own vs. the best of her division.   

I think she may be tough to beat, but I an giving Flipcup a chance to pull off what would be a mild upset.  Flipcup has, somewhat surprisingly, never won a race on turf.  But she has run very well on grass without fail, and she benefits from getting away from Fourstar Crook, whom she has had to face in all five of her prior turf races vs. NY-breds.  

Barrel of Dreams and Tizzelle are both contenders, as well, in particular, the former, who ripped off a fast pace before getting tired late last time.  

First stake of the day coming up in Race 2, the Maid of the Mist for 2yo fillies.  Todd Pletcher's Pure Silver is currently heavily-favored as she drops out of a pair of graded stakes races with the top two figures in the field.