Rice saddles triumvirate in both NYSS divisions

Trainer Linda Rice will send out three runners apiece in

the two $100,000 divisions --

Spectacular Bid and

Cupecoy's

Joy -- of Sunday's New York Stallion Stakes (NYSS) at Belmont Park.

The Cupecoy's Joy, for three-year-old fillies on the turf at

seven furlongs, will feature the Rice-trained trio of Miss Narcissist, Champagne

Ruby and Bella the Bandit, none of whom have made a start over turf.

Miss Narcissist rose to prominence as a two-year-old when

she took the October 19 Joseph A. Gimma at Belmont by 5 1/4 lengths then

followed that performance with a win in the NYSS Fifth Avenue division on November 23

at Aqueduct.

The bay filly has made only one start in 2014, a

fifth-place finish in the NYSS Park Avenue division on April 27.

"Miss Narcissist was injured in the starting gate in

December (in the East View)," Rice explained. "She has taken quite a bit of time to

round back into form, but she seems to be turning a corner at this point. She's

never been on turf, but she's a (daughter of) Freud, and most of them do well on

the grass."

The second most accomplished of the Rice triumvirate,

Champagne Ruby, is exiting a sixth-place finish in the May 31 Bouwerie at

Belmont. In her only prior start of 2014, the chestnut daughter of Utopia

finished second to the re-opposing Henry's Gal in the Park Avenue.

Rounding out the Rice trio is Bella the Bandit, a two-time

winner by Bustin Stones who finished fourth in the Park Avenue last out.

"Utopia's (progeny) have generally done well on the grass. I have been

able to take her out to the turf and she did seem to like it," Rice noted.

"Bella the Bandit ran pretty well in the Park Avenue on dirt. I've never had the opportunity to try her on grass but I've

always felt that she'll like it."

Miss Narcissist, Champagne Ruby and Bella the Bandit will

be ridden by Joel Rosario, Taylor Rice and Irad Ortiz Jr., respectively.

In the Spectacular Bid, for three-year-old colts and geldings at seven

furlongs on the turf, Rice will saddle Mark My Way, Bambisfrostyracer and A

Marked Man.

Mark My Way has a win and two third-place finishes to his

credit racing over turf. The win, a romping five-length victory, came on

November 10 at Aqueduct. The bay son of Noonmark's most recent outing was a

half-length third against older foes on May 25 at Belmont going 1 1/8 miles on the

turf.

"Mark My Way is proven on turf," Rice stated. "He can't run a

jump on dirt, but he's good on turf and we got a nice prep race into him (on May

25)."

Bambisfrostyracer, who has yet to run on turf, is coming

off a 2 1/2-length maiden score on June 15 at Belmont. A Marked Man, who is still a maiden

through three career starts, completes the Rice entry. The gelded son of Noonmark was most recently second

in an off-the-turf contest at Belmont.

"Bambisfrostyracer broke his maiden going a mile on dirt

last Sunday; he's back on short rest and is unproven on the turf, but we thought

we'd take a shot," Rice said. "A Marked Man loves the grass. Jose (Ortiz)

rode him at Aqueduct and he was very green. He is a maiden, so it's a step up in

class, but I thought he deserved a shot."

Mark My Way, Bambisfrostyracer and A Marked Man will be

ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, respectively.

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