Trainer Kelly Breen On The Mend Following Neck Fusion Surgery

Three-time leading trainer Kelly Breen said he hopes to mark his return to Monmouth Park next weekend after undergoing neck fusion surgery three weeks ago.

Breen will send out hard-hitting Jersey-breds He'spuregold and Pickin' Time in Sunday's $85,000 Friendly Lover Stakes for state-breds going a mile at the Oceanport, N.J., track.

“It was major surgery,” said Breen. “It was rough. I had trouble breathing and eating and lost a little weight. I couldn't walk for a while. I needed a walker. I'm up to walking with a cane now.

“I should be back next weekend.”

Breen's absence is a large reason for the slow start to the meet, with just three winners from his first 22 starters.

“I have a bunch (six overall) in on Sunday and I'm trying to bring along some 2-year-olds that are maybe behind where I usually am,” he said. “I have not had as many running as I would like but it will pick up.”

From a health standpoint, Breen said “every day I'm a little better.”

“It knocks you out,” he said. “Just trying to walk down the stretch has been an accomplishment.”

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NYRA: Sunday’s All-Turf Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Belmont, Monmouth, Woodbine

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday featuring racing from Belmont Park, Monmouth Park and Woodbine Racetrack.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, offers sequences with races from Belmont Park and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence begins in Race 6 from Belmont Park at 3:40 p.m. Eastern with a nine-furlong inner turf starter allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. The Bill Morey-trained Always Laughing looks to notch her third consecutive win after a seventh-out graduation and follow-up win in a $30,000 claiming event in March. She will face a competitive field that includes Cumberland Falls, a 3-year-old who broke her maiden against elders in May at Monmouth for trainer Kent Sweezey, and the Bruce Brown-trained From Hello, who finished second in this condition in each of her last two outings.

The second leg features juvenile fillies contesting a five-furlong maiden on Belmont's Widener turf course in Race 7 [4:12 p.m.]. The well-bred Kodiac Wintergreen debuts for conditioner Rusty Arnold off a string of works at Churchill Downs. The Irish-bred daughter of Kodiac is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Love Reigns. Trainer Ben Colebrook saddles one of three horses in the field who have made a start in Yellow Sun Dress, who was defeated a half-length when fourth on debut in an off-the-turf sprint in April at Keeneland.

Action heads north to Woodbine for the middle leg in Race 7 [4:25 p.m.], a seven-furlong turf optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up. The Great Oz looks to avenge a head defeat in this condition on May 21 over the Tapeta at the Toronto oval. He earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer Martin Drexler and is in search of his first win since September. The wide-open field includes the dual graded stakes-placed Proven Strategies for Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse, stakes-winner Hicksy, who enters from a pair of local claiming victories for trainer Kevin Attard, and Grandson, who takes a step down in class after an off-the-board finish in the restricted Steady Growth in December for trainer John LeBlanc, Jr.

The penultimate leg sees action from the Jersey Shore as a field of nine assemble for a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance for 3-year-olds and up in Race 9 [4:40 p.m.] at Monmouth. The Michael Trombetta-trained Biz Biz Buzz has finished on-the-board in each of his last five outings, including a win two starts back in a Florida-bred optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. His good form will be challenged by the improving Tapio, who finished second in a dead heat with the stakes-placed American Speed in a May 20 allowance at Pimlico Race Course for trainer Michael Stidham. Two Steppin Kluki cuts back from one-mile as he looks to notch his fourth lifetime victory for trainer John Pimental.

The sequence concludes with graded action from Belmont in Race 10 [5:50 p.m.], the Grade 2, $200,000 Wonder Again for sophomore fillies going nine furlongs on the inner turf. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey saddles Allamericanbeauty off a closing half-length victory in a first-level allowance in April at Keeneland where she went from nearly last-to-first under Frankie Dettori. Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out the formidable triad of dual graded stakes-placed Revalita and maiden winners Prerequisite and Venencia, while the undefeated Spansive, winner of both her career outings, looks to keep her perfect record intact for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Sunday, June 11

Leg A: Belmont Park, Race 6 – starter allowance (3:40 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park, Race 7 – maiden special weight (4:12 p.m.)

Leg C: Woodbine, Race 7 – allowance optional claiming (4:25 p.m.)

Leg D: Monmouth Park, Race 9 – allowance (4:40 p.m.)

Leg E: Belmont Park, Race 10 – G2 Wonder Again (5:50 p.m.)

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Saturday Insights: Bolt d’Oro Filly Opens Belmont S. Card

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6fT, 11:20 p.m.

A New York-bred daughter of 2022's champion freshman sire Bolt d'Oro, ADVANCE ATTACK makes her afternoon debut to open the card on Belmont S. day. Purchased for $450,000 out of last year's OBS April Sale, she is a half-sister to GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Bolo (Temple City), SW Build to Suit (Dominus), and GSP Let Me Go First (Paddy O'Prdo). Her dam, unfortunately lost in 2021, was a half to the dam of GI Kentucky Derby upsetter and Canadian champion 2-year-old colt Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and MGISW Dullahan (Even the Score). Racing out of Todd Pletcher's shedrow, Advance Attack gets the services of Manny Franco in the irons. TJCIS PPS

 

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Smart Juvenile Stakes Winners Among First Entries For Goffs London Sale

A trio of stakes-winning 2-year-olds are among the highlights of the initial entries released for the Goffs London Sale, held in association with Privat 3 Money. Set for Monday, June 19, the sale is limited to 20 entries and the complete catalogue will be unveiled on Monday, June 12.

Theresa Marnane's Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), a winner of the G3 Marble Hill S., and Tipperary winner Supersonic Man (GB) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) are two of the entries. The duo are trained by Jessica Harrington, with the latter also carrying Marnane silks.

Con Marnane said, “They're two fine, big, strong colts with real chances at Royal Ascot. Givemethebeatboys is very special, he is the second highest rated 2-year-old in Ireland with Timeform and he goes to the [G2] Coventry S. for which he's currently 10-1.

“Supersonic Man is an extremely powerful fast colt and is as tough as nails.  He has a great chance in either the Windsor Castle or the [G2] Norfolk S.

“We've sold two horses at the London Sale before, Forever In Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) who went on to be second in the G1 Commonwealth Cup just days later, and the other was Real Appeal (Ger) (Sidestep {Aus}) who came out and won a Group 2 and Group 3. It's such a unique sale, and Goffs do a fantastic job in bringing in so many of the world's biggest buyers.”

Another entry is Sunday's Listed Prix la Fleche hero The Fixer (Ire) (No Nay Never), while No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) won a stakes at Gulfstream Park in May. There are also breeding rights on offer for Havana Grey (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB), as well as a half-sister to G1 Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) carrying to Teofilo on Southern Hemisphere time.

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