Spirit of New York likes the course for NYSSS Spectacular Bid
At 0h28, on June 20, 2026 • By Aqueduct Racetrack
Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Winners Win and Mark Parkinson’s Spirit of New York returns to the site of his Bertram F. Bongard win in Saturday’s $150,000 Spectacular Bid division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Adam Rice, the Honest Mischief gelding captured the Bongard by a half-length versus fellow New York-breds over course and distance in September. The stalking performance, with returning rider Manny Franco up, earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure and came on the heels of a third versus open company in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore in August at Saratoga Race Course.
“I feel pretty good about him for this year. He grew up a lot, came back off the farm really well, we gave him time to grow up a little more, and he seems to be progressing just fine,” Rice said. “We’ve gotten some nice works into him that I’m happy with, so we should be on course. I think the three-quarters distance suits him.”
Prior to the Skidmore, Spirit of New York [post 4, Manny Franco], bred by Magic Oaks Farm, won his 5 1/2-furlong debut versus state-breds in July at the Spa, and has competed in four stakes since. Most recently, the bay was off-the-board in the seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way when trying the dirt here in December after a fourth in the local one-mile Notebook, around two turns on turf, in November.
Spirit of New York has trained into his seasonal debut with a series of works over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic, including a half-mile breeze in 50.40 seconds on June 10.
“He’s turf, flat out,” Rice concluded. “I knew that when I got him last spring, that he’d be better on turf or synthetic. He showed himself well in open company in the Skidmore last year. Stretching out later might not have been to his advantage. Clearly, he can do it, but there’s other horses that might be better for it.”
Spirit of New York is out of the Candy Ride mare Unbroken Spirit. His fourth dam is Reine-de-Course mare Weekend Surprise, who produced the pair of multiple graded stakes-winning influential stallions A.P. Indy – a Hall of Famer – and Summer Squall.
DiRico Racing and Breeding’s Sunday Boy [post 7, Chris Elliott] has made 3-of-8 starts on turf and seeks his first win on the surface. Trained by Jim Ryerson, the Central Banker bay rallied under returning rider Chris Elliott to win the aforementioned $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way and graduate at sixth asking, capping his juvenile season with a statement victory.
