Celtic Dawn tries turf in NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy
At 10h16, on June 12, 2026 • By Aqueduct Racetrack
Blue Devil Racing Stable’s New York homebred Celtic Dawn is 2-for-2 on dirt and will try the lawn for the first time in Saturday’s $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Carlos Martin, the Honest Mischief gray defeated elders by 1 1/4 lengths last out in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on the local main track on May 14. Piloted by returning Hall of Fame-rider Javier Castellano, Celtic Dawn traveled off-the-pace in third-of-6 through the half-mile in 45.31 seconds, taking over from a game D’s a Rock in the final sixteenth and inching clear to stop the clock in 1:17.16. The performance earned a field and career-best 72 Beyer Speed Figure.
“This is an interesting spot, I’m excited about running her,” Martin said. “She is moving really well right now. I’m happy with the way she ran off the layoff. She put on some weight out of the race, which is a great sign for fillies.”
Celtic Dawn’s victory came off an over eight-month layoff dating to a winning debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs in an August off-the-turf maiden at Saratoga Race Course. She subsequently received successful surgery for a fractured pastern in the left front at the nearby Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.
“I think she’ll be fine with the six furlongs, she won the other day going six and a half furlongs,” Martin said. “She broke her maiden at five and a half furlongs, and hopefully she’s got enough speed to put herself into the race.”
Celtic Dawn [post 5, Javier Castellano], who was entered for the turf on debut, now tries the surface versus eligible-sired sophomore fillies. She is out of the Paddy O’Prado mare Tapa Liath, a two-time winner on turf for Marc Holliday’s Blue Devil Racing Stable. Paddy O’Prado, himself, was a Grade 1-winner on turf, in addition to strong dirt efforts, including a third in the 2010 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
“I’m really curious to get her on the turf. We were initially going to try to run her last year first time out on the grass, because of pedigree on the mom’s side,” Martin said. “It got rained off and she’s now won twice on dirt, but I think she’ll handle anything. I can’t be any happier with the way she’s coming into the race.”
