Eddie F’s Racing’s New York-bred stakes winner Buttah is currently riding a two-race winning streak heading into Saturday’s Grade 3 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park. This seven-furlong sprint, open to horses three years and older, offers a $250,000 purse and acts as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint taking place this October at Keeneland.
Buttah, a 4-year-old Leofric gray, has competed in three races under trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci after previously running 16 times for retired trainer Gary Sciacca. In those recent outings, Buttah finished a narrow second by a head in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race at Belmont in May before capturing a one-length allowance victory over the same distance on Saratoga’s Belmont Stakes Day, June 6. That performance was validated by strong form from several horses who finished behind him, including Local Knowledge, who went on to win the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes, and Yo Banana Boy, who captured the Leon Reed Stakes next out. Additionally, Sea Strike, who finished fifth, dominated in the local Curlin Stakes.
Buttah solidified his credentials with a 1 1/2-length triumph against Doc Sullivan in the state-restricted, seven-furlong John Morrissey Stakes on August 6 at Saratoga. Javier Castellano was aboard for both of these recent wins. Trainer Kantarmaci expressed confidence in Castellano’s judgment, saying, “I’m going to tell Javier, whatever you think is best — this horse is very good, and I don’t want to complicate things. I’ll just say, ‘Hi, how are you? Good luck.’”
This stakes victory would mark Kantarmaci’s first graded stakes win as a head trainer, though he has experience with graded events assisting his father and brother. “We won many graded stakes when I was an assistant for my dad,” he said. “Now working on my own, it would still be exciting and a proud moment to earn my first graded win.”
Based at Belmont Park, Kantarmaci lauded the new facility, noting, “It’s beautiful. There’s nothing better than this track — everyone loves it, and we’re excited. I hope we get lucky; I think Buttah is ready and hopefully likes the track again.”
Buttah, who will start from post 9 with Castellano, is out of the Chief Seattle mare Salty Little Sis, who has also produced stakes winners Lobsta and Chowda, all bred in New York by Fedwell Farms.
Also entered by Kantarmaci is El Grande O, a 5-year-old dark bay son of Take Charge Indy, owned jointly with Sanford Goldfarb and the Estate of Ira Davis. Purchased for $110,000 after his latest narrow victory sprinting seven furlongs at Saratoga on September 2, El Grande O was previously trained by Linda Rice, during which time he accumulated a 23-9-5-3 record, including two state-bred stakes wins and graded placings. “I really like him and think he’s another quality New York-bred,” Kantarmaci said. Bred by Stonewall Farm, El Grande O is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed Meal Ticket and out of the stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare Rainbow’s Song.
Lucky Hat Racing and EGL-One Racing’s Contrary Thinking, a 6-year-old Into Mischief gelding trained by Amelia Green, has shown promise in three dirt sprint optional claimers at Saratoga this summer. Purchased for $130,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale in May, Contrary Thinking earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure with a close second by a nose to Senior Officer in June, followed by another second to graded winner Whatchatalkinabout in July before scoring a 2 1/2-length win over next-out winner Commuted on August 14, matching that 99 Beyer figure. Green commented, “I’m happy for him and the owners — he’s back in the winner’s circle and proving to be a nice racehorse.”
Green also trains Tristar Farm’s New York-bred Doc Sullivan, who has placed second twice under her care after initially racing for Mike Miceli and John Ortiz. In his latest outing on September 5 at Saratoga, the 5-year-old Solomini dark bay finished just a nose behind Wynstock after a slow start at one mile in open optional claiming company. Green said, “Both times he ran too well to lose, especially last time. Cutting back to seven furlongs is the only question, but he has good form at that distance.” Doc Sullivan boasts a 9-3-2-1 record at seven furlongs, with wins all coming in restricted stakes, and finished fourth in last year’s Grade 1 Forego and Grade 3 Vosburgh.
Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Crazy Mason, a dual Grade 1-placed 5-year-old Coal Front colt trained by Gregg Sacco, seeks his first victory since taking the Grade 2 Carter Stakes last April at Aqueduct. He arrives off a strong fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego on August 29 at Saratoga and was third in the same event last year. The gray horse also finished third in the May Grade 1 Churchill Downs at seven furlongs.
Qatar Racing’s Senior Officer will also compete following his dead heat for second place in the Forego Stakes, trained by two-time Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding was making his stakes debut off a three-race winning streak, including two dirt sprint victories at Saratoga earlier this summer.
The rest of the competitive field includes Grade 1-placed Moonlight from trainer Peter Miller; Hall of Famer Bill Mott’s T Kraft; Grade 3 winner Bring the Smoke for Whit Beckman; and stakes-placed Ignite the Light, conditioned by Rick Dutrow Jr.
This coverage was originally published by Paulick Report on September 21, 2026.
Fan Take:
This race highlights the depth and quality of New York-bred sprinting talent, showcasing upcoming and established horses vying for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Fans should watch closely as performances here could shake up sprint divisions nationally and reinforce the importance of state breeding programs in the sport’s future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
