NEW YORK (AP) — Lunar Victory won the $250,000 Empire Classic on Saturday at Belmont Park to cap a big international day for the Juddmonte Farms of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Juddmonte’s Frankel closed out his brilliant career unbeaten in 14 races with a victory in the Champions Stakes before Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in England.
Lunar Victory later proved to be king of the New York breds in the richest event of the annual New York Showcase Day.
The 4-5 favorite, Lunar Victory beat Saratoga Snacks, owned by former NFL coach Bill Parcells, by 1 1/4 lengths to give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first Empire Classic win. Junior Alvarado was aboard as the 5-year-old scored his fifth victory in six starts this year, paying $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite. The time was 1:47.50 for 1 1/8 miles.
