2021 belmont stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

$112.7 Million Wagered On Belmont Stakes Card; Record For Non-Triple Crown Year

Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., highlighted by Essential Quality's thrilling victory in the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $112,725,278; a NYRA record for a non-Triple Crown year.

The 2021 all-sources handle figure is an increase of more than 10 percent over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $102,163,280, which was set in 2019.

On-track handle for the 13-race Belmont Stakes Day card, which included eight Grade 1 races among nine total stakes, was $7,532,571.

All-sources handle on the 153rd Belmont Stakes, carded as Race 11, was $60,459,330.

All-sources handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 stakes and 33 races in total from Thursday through Saturday, June 3-5, was $141,984,866.

This year marked the return of the Belmont Stakes to its customary spot on the racing calendar and its famed distance of 1 1/2 miles. In 2020, a readjustment to the stakes schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic saw the “Test of the Champion” run at 1 1/8 miles without spectators in attendance and as the opening leg of the Triple Crown series for the first time in history.

In accordance with New York State guidelines in effect prior to the event, capacity was restricted throughout Belmont Park and general admission was not offered in 2021. As a result, paid attendance on Belmont Stakes day was 11,238.

The Belmont Park spring/summer meet continues through July 11th. For more information, visit NYRA.com.

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Velazquez To Ride Preakness Winner Rombauer In Belmont Stakes

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will ride John and Diane Fradkin's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer in the G1 Belmont Stakes on June 5, replacing Flavien Prat, who rode the Twirling Candy colt to victory in the Triple Crown's middle leg but committed to ride G1 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Hot Rod Charlie in the 1 1/2-mile Test of the Champion at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form.

Velazquez rode Medina Spirit to a first-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and finished third aboard the Protonico colt in the Preakness, but Medina Spirit will not run in the Belmont. Following Medina Spirit's defeat in the Preakness and more than a week after the colt's trainer, Bob Baffert, revealed that he was notified of a positive drug test from the Derby, New York Racing Association officials said they would not accept any entries from Baffert or allow his horses to stable at NYRA tracks indefinitely. A stewards' hearing can not be held in Kentucky until results of a split sample test is received by officials there.

Velazquez was also the regular rider of G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat, who was briefly under consideration for a try against colts in the Belmont. However, her connections announced last week she would not contest the Triple Crown's final leg.

If Rombauer contests the Belmont, this will be the 19th consecutive year Velazquez has a mount in the race. He's won twice – with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007 and 2012 with Union Rags – from 24 Belmont Stakes starts dating back to 1995.

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Essential Quality Sharp In Belmont Stakes Breeze At Churchill Downs

Godolphin's Essential Quality, the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) favorite and likely top betting choice for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.80 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, the fifth fastest of 40 horses at the distance at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality was the 5-2 favorite in the May 1 Kentucky Derby and crossed the wire fourth behind Medina Spirit, Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie.

The Tapit colt worked Saturday in company with 5-year-old graded stakes winner Night Ops through early fractions of :24.20 and :47.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

There were 169 horses that donned the Saturday work tab at Churchill Downs including Juddmonte's Mandaloun who cruised an easy half-mile in :48.20. His next start is still to be determined, according to Cox.

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Japan’s France Go De Ina Settles In For Belmont Stakes Attempt

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina, trained by Hideyuki Mori, visited the Belmont Park main track for the first time on Friday to begin preparations for a start in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

The 62-year-old Mori said the Kentucky-bred France Go de Ina was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont on Monday following his seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Preakness under Joel Rosario.

“It's been 15 years since I've been here. I forgot how big it was,” said Mori with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter. “It looks like he has settled in well and is in very good condition. He looks like he has got all his weight back from after the race and all the travel.”

Bred by Kidder Betz, B & K Canetti and Jim Betz, the Japan-based France Go de Ina was purchased by the conditioner for $100,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owner Yuji Inaida.

In addition to trying to collect a $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes, France Go de Ina will look to provide Mori with his first win in North America with his eighth starter.

Mori traveled Ski Captain to Churchill Downs in 1995 to finish 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in his first venture to North America. The well-respected conditioner has been represented at the last two Breeders' Cup World Championships with Matera Sky [8th, 2019 Sprint], Full Flat [5th, 2019 Juvenile] and Jasper Prince [14th, 2020 Sprint].

France Go de Ina (by Will Take Charge) is a two-time winner at Hanshin Racecourse, including a maiden score on November 28 and an allowance coup on December 19. France Go de Ina entered the Preakness from a sixth in the UAE Derby following a poor start.

Mori said France Go de Ina should improve off the Preakness effort after extensive travel en route to Baltimore for his attempt at the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“He was good at the beginning but he seemed to get a little tired at the end,” said Mori of the Preakness effort. “He went from Dubai to Japan and then Japan to the Preakness and he probably needed the race to be more fit for the Belmont.”

Mori said France Go de Ina is bred to enjoy the stretch out in distance to 12 furlongs.

“He's out of a Curlin mare, so we're hopeful he'll be able to stay the distance,” said Mori. “He will probably have a serious work on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race. He'll canter in the mornings and continue to build stamina.”

Discussions on who will ride France Go de Ina in the Belmont Stakes are ongoing.

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