Aqueduct Racetrack Notes

Desruisseaux sends Piper’s Legacy for Listed $150K Memories of Silver; Empire Trillium Series looms large in Canadian trainer’s plans
Franco making seventh Grade 1 Kentucky Derby try aboard Albus
One Stripe pointed to G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan
Three Brisset runners possible for G2 Ruffian; Kingsolver primed for surface switch in Take the A Train
Fleetfoot could make the jump into G2 Belmont Gold Cup
New York racing community pleased with Hall of Fame election of Christophe Clement

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Woodbine-based trainer Dale Desruisseaux is looking forward to a potentially profitable year in New York beginning with Piper’s Gift in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Memories of Silver at Aqueduct Racetrack and concluding with the recently announced Empire Trillium Series at Belmont Park.

In March, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Woodbine Entertainment announced the Empire Trillium Series, a 14-race program of stakes races restricted to horses foaled in New York or Canada worth $3.2 million in total purses.

The Empire Trillium Series will begin at the new and reimagined Belmont Park with eight stakes to be contested between December 2026 and February 2027 on the one-mile Tapeta course.

Desruisseaux, who oversees a stable of nearly 50 horses at Woodbine, said he’s looking forward to bringing some young talent to the newly constructed Belmont Park, which will open on September 18.

“Right now, the plan is to have a string down there this winter,” Desruisseaux said. “I’d probably come at the end of November when our racing starts to wind down, depending what we had left to run here. The Tapeta gives us the opportunity to be able to run year round.”

The first four races in the Empire Trillium Series at Belmont Park will be run in December for foals of 2024 with purses of $200,000 each. The marquee events of the series at Belmont Park will be held in late January with the inaugural editions of the $300,000 Long Island Derby and Oaks. The New York section of the series continues in February with a pair of $200,000 sprints before the action shifts to Woodbine for six more stakes.

“It’s a really good thing to have between the two jurisdictions,” Desruisseaux said. “I think it will help both jurisdictions and I’ve heard a few Canadian trainers talking about taking horses down there this winter.”

Desruisseaux shipped Church and State to the Big A twice last year for turf stakes, including a strong third in the Grade 3 Hill Prince in November. He believes the opportunity to race on Tapeta in New York this winter will be attractive for Woodbine-based trainers.

“I think some people that have gone down there previously have struggled with horses that haven’t adapted as well to the dirt surface. With the Tapeta, I think it will be a lot better,” Desruisseaux said.

Desruisseaux said the opportunity to race for U.S. money is also appealing.

“For sure. And especially with the American dollar the way it is, you’re running for a lot more,” Desruisseaux said. “It’s not too far to drive down or jump on a plane.”

Desruisseaux noted he often utilizes the dirt training track at Woodbine as part of his preparation for legging horses up to race on the Tapeta.

“I train a lot of my horses on the dirt training track. I do believe you have to train on the Tapeta at some point because they use different muscles,” Desruisseaux said. “If you’re five-eighths fit on the dirt, you’re probably half-mile fit on the Tapeta. You just have to be wary of your horse’s conformation and how they travel.”

For more information on the Empire Trillium Series, visit http://nyra.com/emptri.

Desruisseaux will look to open his New York account on Sunday with Chiefswood Stable’s Ontario-homebred Piper’s Gift [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who brings a three-race win streak into the Memories of Silver, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies.

She will make her seasonal debut after a string of four turf works at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida last month before heading north to Woodbine where she has breezed twice over the Tapeta, including an easy five-eighths in 1:03.20 April 19.

“She had a really good winter. Fitness wise, she’s ready to go,” Desruisseaux said. “She’ll be running against some horses that have already run and have that fitness edge over her, but she’s ready to go.”

Piper’s Gift made her first two starts sprinting on the Woodbine turf, overcoming a difficult trip from the outermost post 10 in her July debut to land a two-length second to eventual dual stakes-place Sweet Fusion, who surged late between rivals to score. Piper’s Gift followed with an even fifth when racing as a maiden in the Listed Catch a Glimpse in August.

“It just happened that when she was ready last year, the maiden special weight was on the turf. She had breezed really well on it going into that race,” recalled Desruisseaux. “She probably should have won her first start. She had the outside post and broke way out and ended up five-wide the whole way. I don’t think she saw the horse that came up the fence that beat her. The second race she had a little issue. She was probably a little sick that day.”

Piper’s Gift is undefeated in three Tapeta starts since, including a romping eight-length win to graduate third-out versus open company traveling six furlongs in September and a 5 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Listed Glorious Song on October 12. She completed a tremendous campaign with a 4 1/2-length score in the restricted 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth when stretched out to two turns for the first time.

While her best Beyer Speed Figure is a 79 for each of her first two Tapeta wins, Desruisseaux said he believes the talented bay will run on any footing.

“She’s trained really well on pretty much anything. It looks on form like Tapeta is her surface, but I don’t really think it is,” Desruisseaux said. “She just wants to be a racehorse. She’s one of those that’s easy to train and trains herself. You put her in the right situation, and you’ll have a good outcome. We’re looking forward to it.”

Desruisseaux has earned a reputation as a good trainer of young horses with both Piper’s Gift and Garland Williamson’s Ontario-homebred Dixie Law among the nominees for Canada’s Outstanding 2-Year-Old Filly – a category won by the undefeated Corsia Veloce at Thursday evening’s Sovereign Awards.

“I train for a few breeders, and I enjoy the 2-year-olds. I have a bunch of 2-year-olds this year,” Desruisseaux said. “You’re working with a clean slate and trying to mold them and develop them the way you want them. With claiming horses, you can be fixing problems.”

Both Piper’s Gift and Dixie Law are contenders for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 19, a race which often provides contenders for the $1 million King’s Plate – the first leg of Canada’s Triple Crown and the oldest continuously run race in North America. A total of 39 fillies has bested the boys in the Plate, including six since 2011.

“We’re hoping that Piper’s Gift and Dixie Law are Oaks fillies and possibly Plate ones,” Desruisseaux said. “It’s four weeks from the Oaks to the Plate so it gives you more opportunity and the fillies have done quite well in the Plate the last few years.”

Dixie Law defeated males in the restricted 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer in October over firm Woodbine turf and followed with a win in the Grade 3 Mazarine going the same distance on Tapeta in November.

Desruisseaux indicated Dixie Law, who also wintered in Florida, could launch her campaign against open company in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel on May 16 rather than wait for the seven-furlong Fury versus fellow Canadian-breds on June 6 as a prep for the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Selene on June 27.

“She’s a little bit further along than I expected her to be coming out of Ocala, so we might aim for the Ruling Angel,” Desruisseaux said. “It’s a tougher spot because it’s open instead of restricted but it gives us better timing going into the Selene which is two turns – which is three weeks to the Oaks and four weeks to the Plate.”

Desruisseaux noted that Domenic Dilalla’s Church and State, a 4-year-old Caravaggio gelding, is also close to a return after requiring surgery for a knee chip following an off-the-board effort in the Listed Tropical Park Derby in December at Gulfstream Park. He’s worked back twice over the Woodbine Tapeta for his return.

“He had a little operation after his last race at Gulfstream . He chipped his knee and had a bit of time off, but he’s back breezing,” Desruisseaux said.

Church and State rallied from last-of-7 and 10 lengths off the pace to finish fifth in the Gio Ponti here in September ahead of his good third in the Hill Prince with Dylan Davis aboard.

“The first race he was too far back, and he came running that day, too. Dylan gave him a real good ride the second race,” Desruisseaux said. “He’ll have to prove himself to go back there. It’ll be a tougher year going against older horses now. We’ll have to be a little bit picky where we go. He traveled really well going to Aqueduct, so traveling isn’t a concern for him. We’ll pick the best spots and go from there.”

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Franco making seventh Grade 1 Kentucky Derby try aboard Albus

Manny Franco, the reigning and four-time leading jockey at The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), will make his seventh career attempt in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby aboard Albus on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Franco, 31, piloted East Avenue to an eighth in last year’s Kentucky Derby, and his best career finish was a second in the rescheduled 2020 edition aboard the favored New York-bred Tiz the Law – who entered off wins in the Belmont Stakes and Travers during an unorthodox race calendar shuffled by COVID-19.

Pin Oak Stud’s Albus, trained by Riley Mott, was piloted by Jaime Torres last out to win the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, on April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Franco rode the favored Iron Honor in that event and was bumped into the first turn after exiting the outermost post 12 to ultimately finish seventh.

Torres is slated to ride Incredibolt in the Kentucky Derby, the winner of the Virginia Derby on March 14 at Colonial Downs for Pin Oak Stud and Mott. Franco picked up the mount aboard Albus and will add to past Derby experience including Tencendur [17th, 2015], Spinoff [18th, 2019], Tiz the Law [2nd, 2020], Zozos [10th, 2022], Hit Show [5th, 2023] and East Avenue [8th, 2025].

“I’ve been working with a lot of good guys,” Franco said. “My agents from the past and my one now, John Panagot, have been doing a great job. We hustle day in and day out. We’re trying to do our best. I think that’s how I’ve gotten these opportunities. Don’t take anything for granted, when you get an opportunity, make it happen.”

Albus, a son of Yaupon, traveled 11 lengths back in eighth-of-12 early into the Wood, advancing with purpose in the second turn and showing an impressive turn-of-foot to post a 1 1/4-length score over Right to Party in a final time of 1:51.71. Franco will be aboard for the first time in the afternoon in the “Run for the Roses.”

“You can study the race and everything, but when the gates open, it is me and the horse,” said Franco. “I’m going to see how the entries are going to be, but it is about the horse under me, let’s see where he puts me and how far he takes me.

“I think pace is good for my horse, I think he will be coming a little bit off the pace,” Franco added. “If they put up a good pace like some of the Derbys before, my horse is going to have his chance to run his race.”

A memorable late runner in the Derby for Franco was Hit Show, who exited the inside post and traveled eighth through the opening quarter-mile, was in striking distance in third position at the mile, but flattened late to land fifth as Mage was victorious.

“That was a great [memory]. Anything can happen in this race, but you have to have the better trip. After that, you need the horse under you that day,” Franco said.

The list of past Wood Memorial winners includes 11 who went on to win the Kentucky Derby: Gallant Fox, 1930; Twenty Grand, 1931; Johnstown, 1939; Count Fleet, 1943; Hoop Jr., 1945; Assault, 1946; Foolish Pleasure, 1975; Bold Forbes, 1976; Seattle Slew, 1977; Pleasant Colony, 1981; and Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000. Gallant Fox, Count Fleet, Assault and Seattle Slew all captured the Triple Crown.

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One Stripe pointed to G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan

Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam’s South African-bred One Stripe will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for older horses, on June 6 Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.

“I’m going to point One Stripe to the Manhattan,” said trainer Graham Motion. “He is coming off a second at Keeneland.”

One Stripe closed to a three-quarter length defeat to the pacesetting Zulu Kingdom in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on April 10 at Keeneland. The 5-year-old One World bay was making his second start of 2026, adding another Grade 1 placing following a neck second to stablemate Test Score in the nine-furlong Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s coming home next week, he’s still at Keeneland,” Motion said. “We’ll work him on the grass here [Fair Hill] next week.”

One Stripe is a dual Group 1-winner in his native South Africa, including the about one-mile King’s Plate versus elders last January to punch a ticket into the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Mile, where he finished off-the-board in his second start for Motion.

“[South African trainer] Mike de Kock and I have always thought, and we’ve talked about it, that he wants to go further,” Motion said. “We always thought he handles the mile, but he is bred to go further. Mike knows the family better than I do. We always thought more distance is something he’d want to do.”

Motion added that Amerman Racing’s dual Grade 1-winner Test Score could also target the Manhattan after the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 2 Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, which takes entries Saturday. Hope Jones’ New Jersey homebred Cruise the Nile, on a four-race win streak including the Listed Henry S. Clark on April 18 at Laurel Park, may target the Grade 3 Dinner Party on May 16 Preakness Day at the site of his recent win.

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Three Brisset runners possible for G2 Ruffian; Kingsolver primed for surface switch in Take the A Train

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset plans to have 10-to-15 horses stabled at Belmont Park this spring and could have a strong lineup for upcoming stakes during the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.

Brisset, who worked for Hall of Famer Bill Mott for several years before going out on his own in 2017, said the quality of New York racing and the upcoming reopening of a new and reimagined Belmont Park on September 18 prompted him to establish a year-round presence

on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit this year.

“It gives us more options,” Brisset said. “I spent 12 or 14 years working for Mr. Mott at Belmont, and I’m very pro-Keeneland, but I love Belmont. With what they have planned for that place, we need to be there. It’s just good racing.”

Among Brisset’s upcoming stakes prospects in New York are a trio of dirt females eyeing the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian on a May 9 card that is slated to feature four stakes. Brisset said Group 3-winner Queen Azteca and the graded stakes-placed pair of Liam in the Dust and Peignoir are all under consideration for the one-turn mile for older fillies and mares.

Team Valor International’s Queen Azteca’s plans will be dictated by the result of today’s Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale at Keeneland, where she is entered on the heels of a pacesetting one-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on April 17 at the Lexington oval. The 4-year-old Sharp Azteca bay won the Group 3 U.A.E. Oaks last year when in the care of trainer Niels Petersen and was transferred to Brisset in November. She has placed in two stakes in five starts since.

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray and Doug Hesterly’s Peignoir ran on the same Keeneland card as Queen Azteca last out, finishing a stalking third in the Grade 2 Doubledogdare when 6 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Alpine Princess. The 5-year-old Mendelssohn bay won the restricted Lapatourel Overnight in March at Oaklawn Park, and holds a consistent 19-5-4-5 record.

Storyteller Racing and Schroeck Racing’s Liam in the Dust owns a graded placing over the Big A main track, finishing third in the nine-furlong 2024 Grade 2 Demoiselle traveling two turns as part of a juvenile campaign that included a three-quarter-length second to La Cara in the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs. Last year, she won once in six starts and finished off-the-board in four of stakes. Her latest effort was a distant fourth in a seven-furlong optional claimer on April 8 at Keeneland.

“I have three nominated for there, and I’m not committed to anything,” Brisset said. “Obviously, Queen Azteca is at the sale, and she could be gone. Peignoir just ran a really good third in a Grade 2 at Keeneland, but that could be running back a little quick. Liam in the Dust breezed this morning and we are very happy with her. It’s just a little up in the air as to which one we will run in the Ruffian.”

One race Brisset does have pinned down is the six-furlong $150,000 Take the A Train on the May 9 card at Belmont at the Big A, where he is expected to run dirt stakes-winner Kingsolver for her turf debut.

Campaigned by Storyteller Racing, Schroeck Racing, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, Matthew Ransdell, Michael Motley and Joel Braun, the Omaha Beach sophomore graduated in style last year when taking the six-furlong Listed Schuylerville in July over the Saratoga Race Course main track ahead of a one-length second in Ellis Park’s Debutante in August. She concluded the season with a half-length allowance win in October at Keeneland and an even fourth in the Myrtlewood three weeks later there.

Kingsolver kicked off her current campaign with a distant last-of-5 finish in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Beaumont over muddy footing on April 3 at Keeneland. There, she broke sharply from post 3-of-5, but took back and stalked 2 1/2 lengths off the pace before weakening under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“We were supposed to try turf at Kentucky Downs, but she got sick, and she came back and won at Keeneland,” Brisset explained. “We were going to run her in the Limestone, but that race came up so tough. I knew she was a little short fitness wise, but I felt like I was better off running in the Beaumont. It was a short field, and we were hoping for a good run, but she broke like a rocket and I didn’t really care for where she put herself after breaking like that.”

Kingsolver has since worked back twice with blinkers, including on Friday at Keeneland.

“We added the blinkers and her works with them have been really good,” Brisset said. “The good thing about her is if this race comes off the turf, we can run her anyways. That’s a good option for us.”

Brisset added that Grade 1 Arkansas Derby fourth-place finisher Bricklin is possible for the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on the same card, but is more likely to target the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on the May 16 Preakness Stakes undercard at Laurel Park.

“I’m not sure he wants to go that far – the mile and an eighth at Oaklawn, we thought we had a chance if he wanted to go that far,” Brisset explained. “He turned for home on the lead and he got a little tired at the end and the winner was much the best. I think the Sir Barton is on the top of the list, and then we can work down the list if we decide to go somewhere else.”

Campaigned by Imagine Racing, Bricklin graduated at second asking in October at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and finished a distant sixth in the Grade 3 Street Sense to conclude his juvenile season. He returned with gusto in January to wire a first-level optional claimer by 3 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn Park ahead of a third in the Listed Sunland Park Derby in February.

Should Bricklin contest the Peter Pan, Brisset would be in search of his second win in that event after taking the 2022 edition with We the People, who went on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes as the post time second choice.

NYRA will waive entry and starting fees to the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets for the first three finishers of the Peter Pan. The 10-furlong Belmont Stakes is slated for Saturday, June 6, at Saratoga Race Course.

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Fleetfoot could make the jump into G2 Belmont Gold Cup

Fleetfoot, a Group 3-placed 6-year-old Irish-bred son of Teofilo, has his sights set on the Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup on Thursday, June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Contested over two miles on the inner turf for older horses, the staying test is a ‘Golden Ticket’ event offering the winner an automatic berth into the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup worth AUD $10 million, continuing the partnership between The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Victoria Racing Club. “The race that stops a nation” will be held on November 3 at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

“Yes, that’s the plan with him,” said Fleetfoot trainer Barry Foley.

Fleetfoot made the majority of his first 18 starts in his native Ireland for trainer Jim Bolger, including a pair of 12-furlong wins in 2025 led by a score in the McEnery Cup Handicap in August at Gowran Park that garnered a 106 Timeform Rating. He earned a 109 Timeform Rating for his strong second in the 12-furlong Group 3 Kilternan in September at Leopardstown – the winner of that event, Convergent, subsequently captured the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp.

Fleetfoot was then purchased privately and transferred to Foley and just one month later romped to a nine-length victory in the John Forbes Memorial, a two-mile test over good ground at Far Hills.

“His form is fairly solid. The horse that beat him his last run at Leopardstown went on to win a group race in France after,” Foley said. “He’s a lovely horse, very placid. He’s a very easy horse to train. He has a great attitude. He’s a good mover and very versatile.”

The talented bay landed a 4 1/2-length fourth when cut back to 11-furlongs for the Grade 2 Red Smith here last November to conclude a busy campaign. He returned to action on April 18 at Keeneland, landing a distant ninth after a troubled trip into the first turn in the Grade 2 Elkhorn won in stylish fashion by Burnham Square.

“I gave him a break over the winter, and he probably needed the run,” Foley said of the Keeneland effort. “He kind of fooled me this year. I thought he was fitter than he was, but he just does stuff at home so easily, it’s very hard to get the work into him.”

Foley said Fleetfoot could have a run over the jumps on the Virginia Gold Cup program next week at Great Meadow as a prep for the Belmont Gold Cup.

“This should tighten him up anyway,” said Foley, with a laugh.

Foley indicated that the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup distance is perfect for Fleetfoot.

“That’s his trip,” Foley said. “He really showed up at Far Hills and that was two miles as well. The only thing is the course at Saratoga might be on the tight side for him. He doesn’t handle the bends that well. A bigger track would suit him better, but it’s the same for them all.”

Fleetfoot is out of the Distorted Humor mare Fleeting Smile. His second dam is 2006 Champion Older Mare Fleet Indian, the well-regarded multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire New York-bred, who captured the 2006 Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Gold Cup, which often attracts an international field, has been won by European shippers in six of the last eight runnings.

In March, NYRA announced an agreement with Chester Racecourse that will see the winner of the 13-furlong [2,692 meters] Group 3, £140,000 Ormonde on Thursday, 7 May provided an automatic berth, including entry and starting fees, into the Belmont Gold Cup.

A similar agreement is in place with Berlin-Hoppegarten Race Course in Germany, providing the winner of the Group 2 Oleander-Rennen, slated for May 10, a berth into the Belmont Gold Cup. In 2022, the German-bred Loft accomplished the Oleander-Rennen / Belmont Gold Cup double.

***

New York racing community pleased with Hall of Fame election of Christophe Clement

Familiar faces on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit were pleased to hear the news Thursday that Christophe Clement, one of New York’s leading trainers for nearly three decades, will receive the posthumous honor of election to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class of 11 inductees this August in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Clement, who passed away last May after a battle with cancer, has earned election for an illustrious career that saw him condition 22 millionaires amid wins in 2,576 races that garnered $184,127,449 in total purses, the 12th all-time in North America. His most successful pupils include three-time Eclipse Award Champion Grass/Older Horse Gio Ponti, and 2014 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes victor Tonalist, demonstrating Clement’s proficiency with elite horses on both turf and dirt.

Clement, who is fondly remembered by many in the racing community for his patience, warmth, and exceptional horsemanship, created a strong foundation for his family to continue the operation with his son Miguel at the helm, supported by his mother and Christophe’s wife, Valerie; Miguel’s wife Acacia, and his sister, Charlotte Clement Collins. Much of the same staff remained with the stable through the transition, and have been part of the “CC Tribe” for many years, including trusted assistant Christophe Lorieul, who has worked for the stable since 1994.

On Thursday, Lorieul was en route to New York from Keeneland, leaving the barn’s lone runner on the card at Aqueduct to be overseen by assistant Amanda Villafranco, who joined the team in 2024. She reflected on Clement’s induction, and the lessons learned from him in her year under his tutelage.

“I had full-body chills when I heard he was elected,” Villafranco said. “The best way we are celebrating his legacy is being here at work, trying to do what he did best. Christophe’s legacy of generosity is something you see in how the stable continues to operate. I wish I could have known Christophe longer, but the thing that stood out to me about his horsemanship was his patience. Christophe was very warm, and always knew who everyone was, and everyone mattered.”

Alongside a team of dedicated horsemen in the barn, Clement also forged strong relationships with several jockeys in New York’s riding colony. Among them was Manny Franco, whose wins with Clement included one of the Puerto Rican native’s first Grade 1 wins with Yellow Agate in the 2016 Frizette at Belmont Park. They also teamed up to win the 2024 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint with Senbei and 2024 Grade 3 Virginia Derby with Deterministic, the latter on a day in which they won three collaborative races on the Colonial Downs card.

“I’m happy for the Clements,” Franco said. “Ever since I got here to the states, he always supported me. Since Day One, he always supported me. I’m just happy to be part of his success. Hopefully, he is happy up there. And proud up there in seeing his son, Miguel, do well, too. I’m very happy that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Clement also gave support to jockey Dylan Davis in the earliest days of his career, and conditioned Mutamakina to a victory in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor in 2021 at Woodbine, marking Davis’ first top-level triumph. They would team up again at Woodbine to win the 2023 Grade 1 Summer with Carson’s Run, who is currently the second highest-earning horse that Davis has ridden, also capturing the 2024 Grade 1 Saratoga Derby.

“It’s well deserved,” Davis said of the election. “He’s helped a lot of people along in horse racing – I’m not the only one. He was always a big believer in me, and he always looked at the big picture and was willing to teach me and I was willing to learn and grow as part of the team. That’s what he wanted – to grow as a team and work together. He meant a lot to me, did a lot for me, and put me on the big stage to where I’m at today.”

The 2026 Hall of Fame induction is slated for 10:30 a.m. on August 7 at Fasig-Tipton’s Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

In August, NYRA announced the renaming of the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer to honor the life and legacy of Clement, who won the prestigious turf route at Saratoga Race Course a record five times in his distinguished career. The Grade 1, $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in October at Keeneland, is set for August 15.

Aqueduct Racetrack Notes

Desruisseaux sends Piper’s Legacy for Listed $150K Memories of Silver; Empire Trillium Series looms large in Canadian trainer’s plans

Franco making seventh Grade 1 Kentucky Derby try aboard Albus

One Stripe pointed to G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan

Three Brisset runners possible for G2 Ruffian; Kingsolver primed for surface switch in Take the A Train

Fleetfoot could make the jump into G2 Belmont Gold Cup

New York racing community pleased with Hall of Fame election of Christophe Clement

In March, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Woodbine Entertainment announced the Empire Trillium Series, a 14-race program of stakes races restricted to horses foaled in New York or Canada worth $3.2 million in total purses.

The Empire Trillium Series will begin at the new and reimagined Belmont Park with eight stakes to be contested between December 2026 and February 2027 on the one-mile Tapeta course.

Desruisseaux, who oversees a stable of nearly 50 horses at Woodbine, said he’s looking forward to bringing some young talent to the newly constructed Belmont Park, which will open on September 18.

“Right now, the plan is to have a string down there this winter,” Desruisseaux said. “I’d probably come at the end of November when our racing starts to wind down, depending what we had left to run here. The Tapeta gives us the opportunity to be able to run year round.”

“It’s a really good thing to have between the two jurisdictions,” Desruisseaux said. “I think it will help both jurisdictions and I’ve heard a few Canadian trainers talking about taking horses down there this winter.”

Desruisseaux shipped Church and State to the Big A twice last year for turf stakes, including a strong third in the Grade 3 Hill Prince in November. He believes the opportunity to race on Tapeta in New York this winter will be attractive for Woodbine-based trainers.

“I think some people that have gone down there previously have struggled with horses that haven’t adapted as well to the dirt surface. With the Tapeta, I think it will be a lot better,” Desruisseaux said.

Desruisseaux said the opportunity to race for U.S. money is also appealing.

“For sure. And especially with the American dollar the way it is, you’re running for a lot more,” Desruisseaux said. “It’s not too far to drive down or jump on a plane.”

Desruisseaux noted he often utilizes the dirt training track at Woodbine as part of his preparation for legging horses up to race on the Tapeta.

For more information on the Empire Trillium Series, visit http://nyra.com/emptri.

Desruisseaux will look to open his New York account on Sunday with Chiefswood Stable’s Ontario-homebred Piper’s Gift [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who brings a three-race win streak into the Memories of Silver, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies.

She will make her seasonal debut after a string of four turf works at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida last month before heading north to Woodbine where she has breezed twice over the Tapeta, including an easy five-eighths in 1:03.20 April 19.

“She had a really good winter. Fitness wise, she’s ready to go,” Desruisseaux said. “She’ll be running against some horses that have already run and have that fitness edge over her, but she’s ready to go.”

While her best Beyer Speed Figure is a 79 for each of her first two Tapeta wins, Desruisseaux said he believes the talented bay will run on any footing.

“I train for a few breeders, and I enjoy the 2-year-olds. I have a bunch of 2-year-olds this year,” Desruisseaux said. “You’re working with a clean slate and trying to mold them and develop them the way you want them. With claiming horses, you can be fixing problems.”

“We’re hoping that Piper’s Gift and Dixie Law are Oaks fillies and possibly Plate ones,” Desruisseaux said. “It’s four weeks from the Oaks to the Plate so it gives you more opportunity and the fillies have done quite well in the Plate the last few years.”

Dixie Law defeated males in the restricted 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer in October over firm Woodbine turf and followed with a win in the Grade 3 Mazarine going the same distance on Tapeta in November.

Desruisseaux indicated Dixie Law, who also wintered in Florida, could launch her campaign against open company in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel on May 16 rather than wait for the seven-furlong Fury versus fellow Canadian-breds on June 6 as a prep for the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Selene on June 27.

“He had a little operation after his last race at Gulfstream . He chipped his knee and had a bit of time off, but he’s back breezing,” Desruisseaux said.

Church and State rallied from last-of-7 and 10 lengths off the pace to finish fifth in the Gio Ponti here in September ahead of his good third in the Hill Prince with Dylan Davis aboard.

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Franco making seventh Grade 1 Kentucky Derby try aboard Albus

Manny Franco, the reigning and four-time leading jockey at The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), will make his seventh career attempt in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby aboard Albus on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

“You can study the race and everything, but when the gates open, it is me and the horse,” said Franco. “I’m going to see how the entries are going to be, but it is about the horse under me, let’s see where he puts me and how far he takes me.

“I think pace is good for my horse, I think he will be coming a little bit off the pace,” Franco added. “If they put up a good pace like some of the Derbys before, my horse is going to have his chance to run his race.”

A memorable late runner in the Derby for Franco was Hit Show, who exited the inside post and traveled eighth through the opening quarter-mile, was in striking distance in third position at the mile, but flattened late to land fifth as Mage was victorious.

“That was a great [memory]. Anything can happen in this race, but you have to have the better trip. After that, you need the horse under you that day,” Franco said.

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One Stripe pointed to G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan

Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam’s South African-bred One Stripe will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for older horses, on June 6 Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.

“I’m going to point One Stripe to the Manhattan,” said trainer Graham Motion. “He is coming off a second at Keeneland.”

“He’s coming home next week, he’s still at Keeneland,” Motion said. “We’ll work him on the grass here [Fair Hill] next week.”

One Stripe is a dual Group 1-winner in his native South Africa, including the about one-mile King’s Plate versus elders last January to punch a ticket into the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Mile, where he finished off-the-board in his second start for Motion.

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Three Brisset runners possible for G2 Ruffian; Kingsolver primed for surface switch in Take the A Train

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset plans to have 10-to-15 horses stabled at Belmont Park this spring and could have a strong lineup for upcoming stakes during the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.

Brisset, who worked for Hall of Famer Bill Mott for several years before going out on his own in 2017, said the quality of New York racing and the upcoming reopening of a new and reimagined Belmont Park on September 18 prompted him to establish a year-round presence

on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit this year.

“It gives us more options,” Brisset said. “I spent 12 or 14 years working for Mr. Mott at Belmont, and I’m very pro-Keeneland, but I love Belmont. With what they have planned for that place, we need to be there. It’s just good racing.”

One race Brisset does have pinned down is the six-furlong $150,000 Take the A Train on the May 9 card at Belmont at the Big A, where he is expected to run dirt stakes-winner Kingsolver for her turf debut.

Kingsolver kicked off her current campaign with a distant last-of-5 finish in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Beaumont over muddy footing on April 3 at Keeneland. There, she broke sharply from post 3-of-5, but took back and stalked 2 1/2 lengths off the pace before weakening under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Kingsolver has since worked back twice with blinkers, including on Friday at Keeneland.

“We added the blinkers and her works with them have been really good,” Brisset said. “The good thing about her is if this race comes off the turf, we can run her anyways. That’s a good option for us.”

Brisset added that Grade 1 Arkansas Derby fourth-place finisher Bricklin is possible for the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on the same card, but is more likely to target the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on the May 16 Preakness Stakes undercard at Laurel Park.

Should Bricklin contest the Peter Pan, Brisset would be in search of his second win in that event after taking the 2022 edition with We the People, who went on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes as the post time second choice.

NYRA will waive entry and starting fees to the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets for the first three finishers of the Peter Pan. The 10-furlong Belmont Stakes is slated for Saturday, June 6, at Saratoga Race Course.

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Fleetfoot could make the jump into G2 Belmont Gold Cup

Fleetfoot, a Group 3-placed 6-year-old Irish-bred son of Teofilo, has his sights set on the Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup on Thursday, June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

“Yes, that’s the plan with him,” said Fleetfoot trainer Barry Foley.

Fleetfoot was then purchased privately and transferred to Foley and just one month later romped to a nine-length victory in the John Forbes Memorial, a two-mile test over good ground at Far Hills.

“His form is fairly solid. The horse that beat him his last run at Leopardstown went on to win a group race in France after,” Foley said. “He’s a lovely horse, very placid. He’s a very easy horse to train. He has a great attitude. He’s a good mover and very versatile.”

“I gave him a break over the winter, and he probably needed the run,” Foley said of the Keeneland effort. “He kind of fooled me this year. I thought he was fitter than he was, but he just does stuff at home so easily, it’s very hard to get the work into him.”

Foley said Fleetfoot could have a run over the jumps on the Virginia Gold Cup program next week at Great Meadow as a prep for the Belmont Gold Cup.

“This should tighten him up anyway,” said Foley, with a laugh.

Foley indicated that the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup distance is perfect for Fleetfoot.

“That’s his trip,” Foley said. “He really showed up at Far Hills and that was two miles as well. The only thing is the course at Saratoga might be on the tight side for him. He doesn’t handle the bends that well. A bigger track would suit him better, but it’s the same for them all.”

Fleetfoot is out of the Distorted Humor mare Fleeting Smile. His second dam is 2006 Champion Older Mare Fleet Indian, the well-regarded multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire New York-bred, who captured the 2006 Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Gold Cup, which often attracts an international field, has been won by European shippers in six of the last eight runnings.

In March, NYRA announced an agreement with Chester Racecourse that will see the winner of the 13-furlong [2,692 meters] Group 3, £140,000 Ormonde on Thursday, 7 May provided an automatic berth, including entry and starting fees, into the Belmont Gold Cup.

A similar agreement is in place with Berlin-Hoppegarten Race Course in Germany, providing the winner of the Group 2 Oleander-Rennen, slated for May 10, a berth into the Belmont Gold Cup. In 2022, the German-bred Loft accomplished the Oleander-Rennen / Belmont Gold Cup double.

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New York racing community pleased with Hall of Fame election of Christophe Clement

The 2026 Hall of Fame induction is slated for 10:30 a.m. on August 7 at Fasig-Tipton’s Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event is open to the public and free to attend.