New York celebrates its own today with the annual New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

The seven stakes, worth nearly $1 million, drew over 100 entries including also-eligibles. The highlight of the day is the Empire Classic, which, despite a few notable defections, drew a competitive field. Defending race champion Haynesfield, following his open-company wins in the Suburban and Jockey Club Gold Cup, is heading to the Breeders' Cup Classic in two weeks; on Friday, the hard-knocking Naughty New Yorker was withdrawn and retired following an injury. That leaves a field of 10 runners, a competitive mix of sophomores and veterans who have combined to make 148 career starts and earn over $3.3 million.

The 35th running of the nine-furlong event is headed up by Giant Moon (trained by Rick Schosberg, ridden by Edgar Prado, post 10, 6-1 morning line). Lightly raced due to a number of setbacks that Schosberg has patiently guided him through, the 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway is now enjoying an outstanding season. He's been first or second in four starts this year, with the lone exception coming against open graded company. Giant Moon will be looking for his second win on a Showcase Day, having won the Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-olds in 2007.

Giant Moon edged fellow Empire Classic runner Icabad Crane (Graham Motion, Rajiv Maragh, post 5, 8-1) to win the Evan Shipman this summer at Saratoga. After competing against open company early in their careers - running in a number of Triple Crown preps and finishing eighth and third, respectively, in the 2008 Preakness - Giant Moon and Icabad Crane have developed into two of the best older statebreds running today.

These veterans face a deep group of 3-year-olds headed up by Friend Or Foe (John Kimmel, Alex Solis, post 4, 3-1). The colt won his first three career starts, including the Mike Lee at Belmont, the first leg of the Big Apple Triple. Rather than continuing on with the series, he stepped out into statebred company, finishing a creditable fourth in the Jim Dandy and sixth with an eventful trip in the Travers.

Ibboyee (Todd Pletcher, Johnny Velazquez, post 2, 7-2) won the second leg of the Big Apple Triple, the New York Derby, before Stormy's Majesty (Dom Galluscio, Jose Lezcano, post 9, 4-1) edged him in the final leg, the Albany at Saratoga.

Another familiar face in the Empire Classic is Ruffino (Jim Bond, Mike Luzzi, post 3, 20-1). He's still seeking his first win of 2010 but was second in this race last year behind Haynesfield.

The Mohawk, at nine furlongs on the turf, is an intriguing showdown between Ashley T. Cole winner Uncle T Seven (Kimmel, Ramon Dominguez, post 10, 2-1), West Point winner Straight Story (Alan Goldberg, Javier Castellano, post 2, 7-5), and Pocket Cowboys (Scott Schwartz, Edgar Prado, post 3, 5-1), who was runner-up in both of those events.

Driven By Success (Pletcher, Velazquez, post 3, 9-5) drops back down to face statebred sprinters in the Hudson after running fifth in the Grade I Vosburgh.

The program also features the Iroquois for female sprinters; the Ticonderoga for females on the turf; and the Sleepy Hollow and the Maid Of The Mist for 2-year-olds.

For live updates from Showcase Day, follow The Pink Sheet on Twitter; you can also follow Teresa Genaro of Brooklyn Backstretch, a freelance racing writer for the Saratogian.