Belmont Park: Stakes spot plays for Oct. 30

A six-pack of black-type races for Empire State-bred runners will highlight a fine day of racing at Belmont Park.

Race 3 - Sleepy Hollow S.

A field of six juveniles will travel one-mile on the main strip in the $250,000 event. #2 Overstep (6-5) couldn’t have looked much better than he did at first asking for Pletcher, and the son of Into Mischief seems poised to handle the added ground while making his stakes debut against this cast. The $360,000 yearling purchase will be in the mix from the break beneath Irad Ortiz.

Race 6 - Iroquois S.

A total of six fillies and mares will travel 6 1/2 panels in a competitive affair. #6 Espresso Shot (3-1) cuts back following a pair of route races off the short layoff and should be fit and ready to fire her best shot on Saturday. The five-year-old mare was 3 3/4 lengths back in the affair last campaign, but I like her more this season with Jose Ortiz riding. She comes in with a recent bullet morning move and will be rallying from well back on this occasion.

Race 8 - Empire Distaff H.

The 1 1/16-mile test for the ladies attracted 10 for the $250,000 contest. #1 Ice Princess (4-1) has been consistently solid in her career and looms large with a top showing in this spot. The Danny Gargan trainee faces a field with a lot of pace players in the mix, and if the daughter of Palace Malice breaks well from the rail, then she figures to receive a fine trip while saving ground to the top of the stretch. Luis Saez riding adds to the appeal.

Race 9 - Empire Classic H.

The $300,000 headliner has brought out eight to vie in the lucrative test. #5 Americanrevolution (7-5) is the class of the field and will be tough to upend coming off a fine third in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in his latest endeavor. The chestnut gets top billing to head the exacta.

#8 Tiergan (6-1) is a three-time local winner who has been first or second in all seven outings since being claimed by Rudy Rodriguez. The gray son of Afleet Alex was game in a recent Ashley T. Cole S. triumph on the surface, and anything resembling that showing will make him a major contender once again. He completes my exacta.