Empire Dreams wins Big A's Alex M. Robb Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) Empire Dreams edged Saratoga Snacks by a head Thursday in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York breds at Aqueduct.

A comfortable fifth in the early stages, Empire Dreams rallied four-wide turning for home and hooked Saratoga Snacks in the final furlong for a side-by-side duel to the wire.

''I thought I was going to go right by, but Saratoga Snacks was a tough customer,'' winning jockey Manny Franco said.

Empire Dreams, a 4-year-old gelding trained by Tom Albertrani, got his third win in eight state-bred stakes this season.

The time was 1:45.14 for 1 1/16 miles in the mud.

Empire Dreams paid $4.90, $2.70 and $2.30 as the 7-5 favorite.

Saratoga Snacks returned $4 and $3.30, and Good Luck Gus paid $2.90 to show.