Belmont’s Closing-Day Card Features Empire 6 Mandatory Payout, $477,409 Jackpot

The Empire 6, boasting a jackpot of $477,409 heading into the finale of the 25-day Belmont spring/summer meet, will feature a mandatory payout on Sunday's Closing Day card at the Elmont, N.Y., track.

Live coverage of all the races in the sequence are available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports and MSG+. Free Equibase-provided past performances will be available for races that  are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The Empire 6 sequence will kick off in Race 4 at 2:09 p.m. Eastern with an overflow field of New York-bred maidens travelling one mile on the Widener Turf Course. Klickitat, a 4-year-old First Samurai chestnut trained by Jimmy Jerkens, is listed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Race 5 [2:46 p.m.], a six-furlong inner turf sprint for $35,000 claimers, will feature the Christophe Clement-trained Tenure dropping in as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. He will be tested by the swift Fooch, who is owned and trained by Wesley Ward.

The third leg features another full field as New York-bred fillies and mares sprint seven furlongs on the Widener turf course in Race 6 at 3:19 p.m. Moana's Tale, trained by Danny Gargan, looms large dropping back into restricted company following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park. She will have to topple 7-2 morning-line choice Silky Blue, a last-out maiden winner for Jorge Duarte, Jr.; and the consistent Violent Point, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse.

Race 7 [3:52 p.m.] features a field of ten $16,000 claimers 3-year-olds and upward traveling 1 1/16-miles on the main track. Bobbyfromthepalm graduated by 9 ¾-lengths last out on December 29 at the Big A for trainer George Weaver and is listed as the 3-1 morning-line choice off the lengthy layoff. Violent Delights, trained by Tom Albertrani, and Prince of New York for Jeremiah Englehart will merit consideration after running second and third respectively last out on June 18 at the same class going a one-turn mile on Big Sandy.

The penultimate leg [Race 8, 4:23 p.m.] is the featured $80,000 River Memories, a 1 ½-mile stamina test on the Widener turf for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward. Clement will saddle the top two morning-line choices in Olympic Games [3-1] and Wegetsdamunnys [7-2] in a wide open field of 11 contestants.

Closing out the sequence in Race 9 [4:53 p.m.] is an overflow field of New York-bred maiden claiming fillies sprinting six furlongs on the inner turf. Clement, currently second in the trainer standings at the Belmont spring/summer meet, will again saddle the morning-line favorite as the 5-2 Dream Chasing will look to graduate following an even fifth last out at this level on June 25 where she endured an awkward start. Painite, the 7-2 second choice for trainer David Donk, will cut back significantly in distance following a fourth in a 1 1/16-mile event and ninth in a nine-furlong test, both at this class on the Belmont turf.

The Empire 6 requires the bettor to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the card. On non-mandatory payout days, if one unique ticket exists, then 100 percent of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, then 75 percent of the day's net pool will be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races. The remainder will be added into the jackpot and carried to the next day's Empire 6.

Closing Day of the Belmont spring/summer meet will also feature mandatory payouts for both the Early Pick 5 and Late Pick 5 wagers. First post on Sunday's Closing Day card will be 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

For more information on the Empire 6, please visit www.nyrabets.com.

The post Belmont’s Closing-Day Card Features Empire 6 Mandatory Payout, $477,409 Jackpot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Silent Poet Wins Connaught Cup Pace Battle With Admiralty Pier

Stronach Stable's homebred gelding Silent Poet persevered over Admiralty Pier in a Grade 2 Connaught Cup clash Saturday on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course today at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The Nick Gonzalez trainee defeated his main opponent in the seven-furlong feature contested on the outer turf, which was listed as soft as a result of recent rainy weather in the Toronto area.

With regular rider Gary Boulanger sidelined due to a training injury, Justin Stein picked up the mount and was impressed with the 5-year-old gelding he had confronted in the past.

“I was really excited to ride him. He definitely showed me his stuff,” said Stein. “When I rode against him, I was on Cooler Mike, and we rolled right up to him like we were going to drive on by and Silent Poet looked at us and laughed, kind of like what he did today.”

Stein said the eight-time winner had the same attitude here, testing Admiralty Pier all the way. “Just so much heart, unbelievable.” 

Silent Poet battled on top with Admiralty Pier through panels of :23.07 and :45.70, with City Boy and Gray's Fable stalking the dueling leaders all the way into the stretch. The top pair pulled ahead, and the slugfest continued down the lane, with Silent Poet ultimately persevering by half a length in 1:23.62.

Blind Ambition finished 4-3/4 lengths behind Admiralty Pier, just edging out Olympic Runner for the show prize, while City Boy and Gray's Fable rounded out the order. The field was reduced to six with the scratches of White Flag and Regally Irish.

“With a speedy horse like [Silent Poet] and another speed horse on the outside – we got the one-hole – you're committed to a very forward position,” said Stein of his front-running strategy. “It depends on how bad the other horses wanted it, but I talked to Nick and he told me the horse was really easy to ride, according to Gary Boulanger, and that gave me the confidence I needed. I saw the horse run a bunch of times and he's a pro.”

Winner of the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes last year, Silent Poet was sent postward as the 7-5 favourite and returned $4.90 to win. After wintering at Palm Meadows, he entered the Connaught Cup fresh off a victory in a 7-1/2-furlong prep on the inner turf when making his June 11 season's debut.

The consistent son of Silent Name out of Cara Bella has missed the board just twice in his 15-race career. Today's victory boosted his bankroll over the $550,000 mark. 

Stein also won the Connaught Cup in 2014 with Ian Black trainee Excaper.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues, without spectators, on Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack with post time for the first of 11 races set for 1 p.m.

 

The post Silent Poet Wins Connaught Cup Pace Battle With Admiralty Pier appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Maximum Security Breezes For San Diego Handicap; Baffert Shops For Rider

In his final work before next Saturday's $150,000 Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, Eclipse Award winner and presumptive race favorite Maximum Security went five furlongs in :59.60 Saturday morning at Del Mar for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owners Gary and Mary West of Rancho Santa Fe.

It was the second-fastest of 86 works officially timed at the distance. United, nominated to and the likely favorite for next Sunday's $200,000 Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, went five furlongs in :58.80 for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and owners LNJ Foxwoods.

Arriving at the north San Diego County track for the 6:30 a.m. session, with exercise rider Juan Ochoa in the irons, Maximum Security spotted workmate Dark Prince several lengths at the start and made up the difference efficiently, finishing just before a fog bank settled to obscure visibility for a while.

“He worked very nice,” Baffert said. “He looks great and I'm very happy with him. He's such a class horse. Now I have to find a jockey because my guy tested positive. That's the next deal.”

Baffert, and the rest of the racing world, learned Friday that jockey Luis Saez, aboard for the son of New Year's Day's last seven starts, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Saez was informed of the result after riding the second race at Keeneland. Saez, Martin Garcia and Victor Espinoza had been in close proximity at Los Alamitos and now have all tested positive. Espinoza took off three scheduled mounts here on the opening day card Friday.

Also working Saturday morning for Baffert was Kentucky Derby candidate Authentic. With Ochoa aboard, the son of Into Mischief owned by Spendthrift Farm and Starlight Racing went five furlongs in :59.80, third fastest at the distance, in preparation for shipping to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for next Saturday's $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes.

“He worked well, looks very strong,” Baffert said of the colt who's only blemish in four career starts was a runner-up to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby. “I am set (for Saturday on two coasts),” Baffert said.

The post Maximum Security Breezes For San Diego Handicap; Baffert Shops For Rider appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights