FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Michael Lecesse had a successful week with at least one victory on each card including the $159,600 New York Derby with Tin Cup Chalice. It was the biggest purse that a horse saddled by Lecesse has ever won. Tin Cup Chalice will make his next start in the $150,000 Albany at Saratoga on August 20. The undefeated gelding will attempt to be the first horse ever to receive a $250,000 bonus by sweeping all three legs of the Big Apple Triple series.

Karakorum Katie exchanged bumps with Afleet Alexandra during a heated stretch drive in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes on Saturday. The James Jerkins-trainee held off her rival to win the seventh race by a nose. John Davila, Jr. earned his third victory of the day aboard the 3-year-old New York-bred filly. Davila maintained his lead on Dennis Carr in the Finger Lakes jockey standings with the successful day. The eight-time leading jockey currently has 73 victories on the season. After a hat trick on Tuesday, Carr is in second with 62 wins.

Longshot of the Week: Bay Guard scored a one-half length victory in Friday’s ninth race making ammends for a last place finish in his prior start when he reared up at the beginning of the race. The 7-year-old gelding rallied under jockey Chin Yang to score the ninth race upset at odds of 24-1. It was the second horse of the day to visit the winner’s circle for trainer Edward Babcock.

Jockey News: John Grabowski was injured while avoiding a spill that occurred during the running of the ninth race on Saturday. Grabowski suffered a sprained ankle from the incident and is expected to ride on Friday. Jeremias Flores who fell during the race was unhurt and returned to ride on Sunday. Rick Knott lost his irons in the stretch run of Sunday’s sixth race and nearly fell. Knott was able to still win the race despite the incident.

Jockey Multiple Wins: Friday, 7/11: Grabowski (3)…Saturday, 7/12: J. Davila, Jr. (3)…M. Davila (2)…Sunday, 7/13: J. Davila, Jr. (2)…Monday, 7/14: Yang (3)…Flores (2)…Tuesday, 7/15: Carr (3).

Trainer Multiple Wins: Friday, 7/11: Babcock (2)…Lecesse (2)…Saturday, 7/12: Englehart (2)...Sunday, 7/13: None...Monday, 7/14: None…Tuesday, 7/15: Baker (2)…Miller-Saul (2).