Friend Or Foe - 2010 Empire Classic
2,060 views · Published 23 October 2010 · 2:09 · Indexed 9 October 2026
Channel: The New York Racing Association · 2010 · Sports
Heavily favored Friend Or Foe returned to the winner's circle Saturday afternoon with a front-running, stakes-record victory in the 35th running of the $200,000 Empire Classic for New York-breds, the centerpiece of New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park. Trained by John Kimmel for Chester and Mary Broman, the 3-year-old Friends Lake colt grabbed the lead soon after the gates opened and cruised through unpressured fractions of 23.15, 46.79 and 1:10.39. Set down at the head of the lane by jockey Alex Solis, Friend Or Foe easily pulled away from his nine rivals and hit the wire five lengths in front, covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.94 over a fast track. His time easily eclipsed the previous record of 1:48.00 set by Instant Friendship in 1997. From 1976 through 1994, the race was called the Empire Stakes for 2-year-olds going six furlongs.
