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Swiss Skydiver Faces Deep Field In Saturday’s Ogden Phipps

Swiss Skydiver has taken her show on the road here, there and yonder while notching six graded stakes triumphs over five different racetracks. On Saturday, the 2020 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly will vie to reign supreme over a new oval when taking on a compact but classy field in the 53rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

The prestigious 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar.

Owned by Peter Callahan, Swiss Skydiver boasts a lifetime record of 14-7-3-2 and a bankroll of $2,125,480 in earnings, most notably becoming only the sixth filly in history to capture the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Her six graded stakes victories make up a cumulative 21 graded stakes triumphs in the Ogden Phipps field.

In the third start of her 3-year-old campaign, the daughter of Daredevil won her first graded stakes when taking the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in gate-to-wire fashion and began adding miles to the tank with triumphs in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. After taking a crack against males with a game second in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, she recorded her first triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure with a 3 ½-length win in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga, where she ran a 102.

Swiss Skydiver registered her biggest claim to fame thus far two starts later in the Preakness. At the top of the stretch, she engaged in a dramatic stretch duel with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and managed to fend off the subsequent Horse of the Year by a neck while recording a career-best 105 Beyer.

Trainer Kenny McPeek gave Swiss Skydiver a freshening after a seventh-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Keeneland to close out her sophomore season. She returned to action with vigor when making her 4-year-old bow a winning one in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. She arrives at the Ogden Phipps off a distant third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 17 at Oaklawn Park.

Swiss Skydiver has put together a strong series of works heading into her upcoming engagement. She recently went a sharp half-mile over the Churchill Downs main track in 47.80 on Saturday morning.

“She's been training super,” McPeek said. “We had a little hind leg infection that was bothering her. It didn't appear to be a big deal going into Oaklawn, but it might have been why she ran a little flat that day. She's trained like a beast going into this race. So, we're lining up with her again. She's obviously a great filly.

“She is pretty amazing, there's no question,” McPeek added. “She doesn't have many quirks and she loves her routine. She's a very happy filly. She loves to eat, train and has been a pleasure for the people around her. I just hope it last a couple of more years. She's very low maintenance.”

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver could target a start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch on August 1 at Del Mar. She also could set sights on a return to the Spa for the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 28. Like the Ogden Phipps, both races are also “Win And You're In” events.

“The Grade 1 status and the timing for this race was ideal,” McPeek said. “We could have waited it out for the [Grade 2] Fleur de Lis [on June 26 at Churchill Downs], but we wanted to run here,” McPeek said. “I'd like to think we could get her to the Clement Hirsch in California or the Personal Ensign and then there's the Spinster in the fall, too.”

McPeek said Callahan, a New Yorker, has expressed excitement in watching his champion filly run at Belmont Park.

“Peter is from New York, New York so obviously he was interested in this race himself,” McPeek said. “We're also looking at the Saratoga schedule. It was a big deal for Peter when we won the Alabama. We're going to meet Peter this week and hope to enjoy another big win.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz will attempt to be the sixth jockey to pilot Swiss Skydiver to a graded stakes triumph when she breaks from the inside post.

Three of Swiss Skydiver's foes also are Grade 1-winners, including St. George Stable's Letruska, who notched her first victory at such caliber last out in the Apple Blossom on April 16 at Oaklawn Park.

The conquest was a breakthrough one for the 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver, as she defeated two champions in Swiss Skydiver and Monomoy Girl, the reigning Champion Older Mare. After setting the pace, she was confronted by Monomoy Girl in upper stretch, but re-rallied along the rail to win by a neck.

“She's doing very well since the Apple Blossom,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “She's trained very well at Keeneland. The first question I had was if she could fit with those kind of mares and she showed in that race that she could. She ran like a champion.”

Letruska brags the most amount of victories in the field with 13.

She scored her first six wins in as many starts in Mexico, where she won two Group 1 events. When shifting to the United States, she remained competitive at a high level with stakes triumphs in the Added Elegance at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga.

Following a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational, Letruska returned ten weeks later with a decisive win in the Grade 3 Rampart on December 12 at Gulfstream Park. Her career has reached new heights during her current campaign, which commenced with a sharp triumph in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic on January 31.

Gutierrez said removing blinkers ahead of the Rampart benefitted Letruska.

“After we took the blinkers off, she had more chance to relax,” Gutierrez said. “She's more competitive. She would go very fast. She's a filly with some natural speed. She likes to run free.”

Letruska will be reunited with Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 3.

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will saddle two contestants, including 2020 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil.

Shedaresthedevil led a Daredevil-sired exacta in the Kentucky Oaks defeating Swiss Skydiver by 1 ½ lengths while completing the nine-furlong journey in 1:48.20 – the fastest time in the race's history.

Owned by Flurry Racing and Qatar Bloodstock, Shedaresthedevil will seek to keep a clean 4-year-old season intact. Following a wire-to-wire win against Letruska in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn Park in her seasonal debut, she returned to Churchill Downs with vigor when defeating five graded stakes winners in the Grade 1 La Troienne on April 30.

“Off the bench, she's 2-for-2 and was able to beat some really good horses,” Cox said. “She was able to keep her head in front of Letruska in her first start as a 4-year-old. She's a big, beautiful filly and I think she's moved forward from 3 to 4.”

Jockey Florent Geroux has been aboard for four of Shedaresthedevil's five graded stakes victories and will be reunited with the talented bay filly from post 5.

Cox also sends out two-time graded stakes-winner Bonny South for three-time Ogden Phipps winning owner Juddmonte Farm.

The daughter of Munnings won in her 2021 debut when prevailing in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare on April 16 at Keeneland. During her sophomore campaign last March, Bonny South made her first start against graded stakes company a winning one in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Bonny South worked in company with Grade 1 Belmont Stakes favorite Essential Quality on May 29 going a stiff five furlongs in 59.40 seconds over the Churchill Downs main track.

While Shedaresthedevil boasts a more accomplished resume, Cox said Bonny South is on the improve.

“She's been training really well, and I thought her race off the layoff was huge,” Cox said. “I really feel this filly has moved forward from 3 to 4 physically, mentally and just how she's training. We're expecting a big year out of her. This is going to be her 4-year-old Grade 1 debut, so with a good trip, she can be a big factor. She breezed with Essential Quality and they both breezed fantastic.”

Jockey Joel Rosario wore Juddmonte's iconic pink, teal and white silks when guiding Close Hatches to victory in the 2014 Ogden Phipps, and has the mount from post 7.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher seeks his fourth Ogden Phipps victory with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin Schwartz and China Horse Club's Valiance.

The gray Tapit mare makes her 5-year-old debut having last raced when second to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Keeneland. Initially campaigned on turf, on which she won her first three starts,

Valiance saw an alternation of her campaign after a victory in an off-the-turf Eatontown in August at Monmouth Park. She parlayed her newfound winning dirt form into Grade 1 company, capturing the Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length.

“I think as she improved last year, she started training better and running better on the dirt,” said Pletcher who previously won with Ashado [2005], Life At Ten [2010] and Awesome Maria [2011]. “We were happy to run her when it came off. She came out of it and started training better and better. Obviously, the Spinster was a huge win for her and then she ran super in the Breeders Cup. It's a tough race off the layoff, but she seems to be training well.”

Jockey Luis Saez will ride from post 2.

Completing the field are graded stakes-placed Water White [post 6, Manny Franco], who won last year's Busher Invitational at Aqueduct for Rudy Rodriguez, and the Saffie Joseph, Jr. trained Queen Nekia [post 4, Tyler Gaffalione], an upset winner of the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park two starts back.

Previously raced as the Hempstead through 2001, the Ogden Phipps honors the late philanthropist and horse owner, whose iconic and timeless black and cherry cap silks have been synonymous with some of the greatest thoroughbreds of the 20th century. During his long tenure as an owner, Phipps campaigned multiple Hall of Famers such as Easy Goer, Buckpasser, Personal Ensign and Inside Information. One year after his passing in 2002, Phipps was posthumously awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2003 and was named a Pillar of the Turf in 2019. The Phipps family remains active in racing under the moniker Phipps Stable, which is managed by Daisy Phipps Pulito with their horses being trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

The Ogden Phipps is carded as Race 7 on Saturday's 13-race program at Belmont Park. First post is 11:35 a.m.

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Mischevious Alex Will Stretch Out Against Knicks Go In Met Mile

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to build on his already impressive ledger in Saturday's stallion-making Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up on Belmont Stakes Day.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from Thursday through Saturday, June 5, culminating with the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown. First post on Belmont Stakes Day is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said Mischevious Alex, who garnered a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure last out for winning the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack, is a force to be reckoned with at sprint distances, but will need a top performance to have his picture taken in the Met Mile, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar.

“In my opinion, he's the leader of the sprint division, but we run a mile this time, so it's going to be a big test,” said Joseph, Jr. “This is the time to try it and if he's able to accomplish it, it will be a great thing for his resume as a stallion.”

Last year, the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt captured the seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream ahead of a prominent two-length win in the Grade 3 Gotham, travelling a one-turn mile at the Big A for former conditioner John Servis.

Joseph, Jr. said the Gotham result gives him confidence that Mischevious Alex is up to the task after starting his season 3-for-3 with six-furlong wins in an optional claimer and the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint at the Hallandale Beach oval ahead of the Carter coup.

“He's won a one-turn mile already. He won the Gotham before we had him,” said Joseph, Jr. “So, we know he can get the mile, the question will be if he can get the mile against top-class company.

“I'm cautiously optimistic,” continued Joseph, Jr. “He's lethal at six or seven furlongs because he can make the lead or sit if he needs to. At a mile, I feel it's within his reach and he's capable of it, so we'll give it a try. The way he won last time gives you optimism, but he has to go over and do it to make me a believer.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who leads the Belmont spring/summer meet with 34 wins, retains the mount from the inside post.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, trained by reigning Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, looms the one to beat as the 126 pound highweight with an impressive record of 19-6-3-1 with purse earnings in excess of $4.5 million.

The pacesetting 5-year-old son of Paynter enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 campaign in 2020, culminating with a win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that registered a career-best 108 Beyer.

Bred in Maryland by Angie Moore, the striking grey horse matched his impressive figure in his seasonal debut with a 2 3/4-length score in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.
Last out, Knicks Go faded to fourth in the $20 million nine-furlong Saudi Cup on February 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Cox said he intended to enter the horse in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile held Monday at Lone Star, but called an audible with Knicks Go, who breezed a bullet five-eighths in 59.80 seconds on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

“We had to contend with a trip to the Middle East and back. He seemed to recover really well. We were pointing him for the race at Lone Star in the Sexton Mile but with the defection of Charlatan, it gave us enough confidence to put our name in the hat for the Met Mile,” said Cox. “I think this will be a good experience for the horse. He breezed extremely well Sunday and had a huge gallop out. I feel like we're in a good spot with him and going the right way.”

While his rival Mischevious Alex will be concerned about the stretch out, Cox said he has some concerns about the one-turn mile on Big Sandy.

“Outside of Saudi, I haven't really gone one turn with him, so it'll be interesting to see because it's a little bit of a question mark,” said Cox. “But he's won going five-eighths as a 2-year-old, so if the race sets up, I feel confident we can get a good trip and be effective.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from the outermost post 6.

Dr Post, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for St. Elias Stable, hit the board in consecutive nine-furlong Grade 1s last summer when second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell won by Authentic by a nose over Ny Traffic at Monmouth Park.

A $400,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Dr Post launched his 4-year-old campaign with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling a one-turn mile at Belmont on May 1 that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer.

Pletcher said the colt would appreciate a target after being closer to the pace than usual last out.

“It wasn't a very quickly run race. He wasn't any faster earlier on that usual,” said Pletcher of the Westchester score. “I think he would benefit from a contested pace and sit mid-pack. That's his preferred running style.”

Pletcher is a two-time Met Mile winner with Palace Malice [2014] and Quality Road [2010], the sire of Dr Post.

“He's always physically reminded us of Quality Road. Like a lot of good Quality Road progeny, he seems to be stamped by his sire,” said Pletcher. “He's a good-training horse and always has been very straightforward and professional. I like the way he ran off the layoff and hopefully he makes another move forward. I'm happy with him.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call aboard Dr Post from post 2.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, brings a five-race win streak into Saturday's test after making the grade last out in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 17.

A $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, the 4-year-old Hard Spun colt is out of the stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme. Silver State has blossomed at Oaklawn this campaign, winning the one-mile Fifth Season in January and the 1 1/16-mile Essex Handicap in March.

Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., who teamed up to win the Met Mile back-to-back in 2018-19 with Bee Jersey and Mitole, will look for continued success when the improving bay exits post 3.

Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's By My Standards is a four-time Grade 2-winner with nine-furlong scores in the 2019 Louisiana Derby, 2020 New Orleans Classic, and 2020 Oaklawn Handicap, as well as a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba in September at Churchill Downs.

A seven-time winner from 15 starts with purse earnings in excess of $2 million, By My Standards will look for his first Grade 1 score following a narrow nose win in his seasonal debut in the Oaklawn Mile on April 10.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents will exit post 5 under Gabriel Saez.

Calumet Farm homebred Lexitonian, a 5-year-old son of Speightstown trained by Jack Sisterson, will look to provide his owner their second Met Mile following Criminal Type, who won in 1990 under Jose Santos for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

Lexitonian made the grade sprinting six furlongs in the 2019 Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico. He tried his luck in a pair of Grade 1 events last year, rallying from last-of-eight to finish second, by a nose, to Collusion Illusion in the six-furlong Bing Crosby at Del Mar, which was followed by a more prominent fifth, defeated 2 1/2-lengths to Win Win Win in a sloppy renewal of the Forego at Saratoga.

“He's a funny sort of horse. We think we have him figured out and then he throws us a curveball,” said Sisterson. “The plan in the Bing Crosby wasn't to take back and make one run, they just went that quick up front. It was a brutal loss.”

Last month, Sisterson completed a personal NYRA Grade 1 triple when Channel Cat captured the Man o' War at Belmont, adding to top-flight wins by True Timber in the Cigar Mile Handicap in December at the Big A and Vexatious' upset win in the Personal Ensign in August at the Spa.

Lexitonian finished second, by a head to Flagstaff, last out in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 1 in a blanket finish when a nose better than third-place Whitmore, the reigning Champion Male Sprinter.

With regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione up, Lexitonian tracked in fourth position, just 1 1/2-lengths off a swift half-mile of 44.21 set by Bango, in the seven-furlong sprint before digging in down the lane to just miss.

Sisterson said he expects another forward trip for Lexitonian.

“Tyler said to me in the paddock at Churchill that he was going to put him in the race. He felt his best running style is forwardly placed,” said Sisterson. “He's a horse that's never going to win by five or 10 lengths. He works in the mornings to the level of his workmate. He's never going to work in 59 and change, his last work was in 1:02. I think Tyler will ride him forwardly placed. I always think if a horse has speed, why take that away from him.”

Gaffalione will guide Lexitonian from post 4.

The Met Mile is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 13-race card.

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Got Stormy Turns Back, Faces Males In Jackpocket Jaipur

MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy joins defending race-winner and fellow mare Oleksandra in taking on the boys in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur, a six-furlong turf sprint on Belmont Stakes Day.

The 35th running of the Jackpocket Jaipur is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

Got Stormy, a 6-year-old Get Stormy chestnut trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, boasts a record of 28-11-5-3 with purse earnings in excess of $2.1 million. The fan-favorite enjoyed a memorable summer campaign in 2019, besting the boys on one week's rest in course-record fashion in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, covering the mile in 1:32 flat over the firm inner turf at Saratoga. She completed her 2019 campaign with a win in the one-mile, Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar.

Last year, Got Stormy, made her first three starts at distances of one mile or greater before turning back to 6 1/2-furlongs to win the Grade 3 Ladies Sprint in September over soft going at Kentucky Downs. She followed with a win in the Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County at 5 1/2-furlongs on “good” Keeneland turf in October ahead of a close fifth, defeated two lengths by the victorious Glass Slippers, in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November at Keeneland.

Got Stormy launched her current campaign with a nose win in the one-mile Grade 3 Honey Fox in February at Gulfstream, but was an even fifth last out in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Casse said the cut back in distance should benefit his charge.

“She likes to have a target,” said Casse. “A lot of times in these mile races, the pace isn't fast enough for her to have a target and we're hoping that won't be the case going three quarters.”

The veteran conditioner noted Got Stormy has proven comfortable on soft going at sprint distances.

“If there's some give in the ground, she won't mind it going six furlongs,” said Casse. “The give in the ground only bothers her going a mile, when she has some distance limitations.”

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Got Stormy from post 11.

Team Valor International's Oleksandra rallied to win last year's Jaipur by a neck over Kanthaka. The 7-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom, who sports a ledger of 19-7-4-3 with purse earnings of $568,248, is winless in three starts this season.

Last out, the Neil Drysdale trainee rallied from 10th to finish fifth in the Unbridled Sydney at 5 1/2-furlongs over “good” Churchill Downs turf on April 29.

Joe Bravo has the call from post 9.

Multiple graded stakes-winner Bound for Nowhere, owned and trained by Wesley Ward, has flashed brilliance through a career record of 15-7-2-2 and purse earnings just shy of $1 million.

The 7-year-old son of The Factor garnered a 107 Beyer Speed Figure winning the 2018 Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland ahead of a close third in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Ascot.

In 2019, Bound for Nowhere narrowly missed defending his Shakertown title when second, by a neck, to Imprimis. Last year Bound for Nowhere made just two starts, including a pacesetting third in the Shakertown, when a neck back of the victorious Leinster.

Bound for Nowhere made his seasonal debut by winning the Shakertown in dramatic fashion, besting familiar foe Imprimis by a nose over good Keeneland turf on April 13

Ward said Bound for Nowhere, a former workmate of multiple Group 1-winning mare Lady Aurelia, has turned a corner both physically and mentally as he looks to secure a first Grade 1 win.

“He's had a lot of minor issues along the way that's taken a lot of time to get to the races, which is why he's only had 15 total starts in his career, but this year he really turned the corner,” said Ward. “Each and every work is better than I've ever seen. He's always been the type of horse that wouldn't put much effort into his works. He used to be Lady Aurelia's workmate and he would get outworked every week.

“I know she was great, but this guy is a completely different work horse in the morning,” added Ward. “He's not letting anyone outwork him when he's in company. His times are significantly better than in the past. As you go into these big races, you're always dealing with issues. This time we're dealing with zero issues.”

Bound for Nowhere will exit post 6 under Joel Rosario.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle a pair of contenders in Casa Creed and Chewing Gum.

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed [post 2, Junior Alvarado], a 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay, made the grade in the one-mile, Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August 2019 at Saratoga. A veteran of 19 starts with a record of 4-3-3 and purse earnings of $535,408, Casa Creed rallied to a smart score in the Elusive Quality in his third start of the campaign.

Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Jerold Zaro's graded-stakes placed Chewing Gum [post 1, Jose Ortiz] closed to finish second in the six-furlong Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational in October at Belmont. The consistent 6-year-old son of Candy Ride boasts a record of 17-3-3-6 and purse earnings of $308,288.

Mott also entered the stakes-placed Secret Rules for the main-track only.
Swifty Farms' Sombeyay, a 5-year-old son of Into Mischief trained by Peter Miller, has attracted the services of Flavien Prat from post 12.

Previously conditioned by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Sombeyay captured the six-furlong 2018 Grade 3 Sanford on the Saratoga main track and added a win in the one-mile Grade 3 Canadian Turf in February 2020 at Gulfstream.

Sombeyay has made five starts for Miller since November, including an optional-claiming score on the Santa Anita turf in January. He has finished second in his most recent two starts in turf sprints, missing by a neck in the six-furlong Grade 3 San Simeon in March at Santa Anita and by a half-length to Fast Boat last out in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Turf Sprint on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Robert D. Bone's multiple stakes winner Completed Pass, a 7-year-old Indiana-bred son of Pass Rush, has enjoyed turf sprint success on the Midlantic circuit, taking the Laurel Dash in September and the King T. Leatherbury in April at Pimlico.

Trained by Claudio Gonzalez, Completed Pass will exit post 3 under Angel Cruz.

Completing the field are Fast Boat [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Greyes Creek [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Gregorian Chant [post 8, Luis Saez], and Stubbins [post 10, Javier Castellano].

The Jackpocket Jaipur is slated as Race 6 on the 13-race card.

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Essential Quality Draws Post Two in Belmont

Godolphin's Essential Quality (Tapit) will break from post two and was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite when post positions were drawn Tuesday morning for Saturday's GI Belmont S. The Brad Cox trainee suffered the first loss of his career when fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby, but had previously been undefeated in five starts and was named last year's champion 2-year-old male.

“He ran what I thought was a winning race in the Derby; he didn't have the trip, but he showed up and he's been improving in every start,” said Cox, who will be saddling his first Belmont Stakes runner. “I'm confident that he can handle the mile and a half. Just based off his works and his races, he's very steady and doesn't seem to get tired. He has a tremendous amount of stamina that I think he was just blessed with based on his pedigree. Luis [Saez] has a ton of confidence in the colt and he's confident Essential Quality can get the distance. We're hopefully set up for a big race Saturday.”

Breaking just to the outside of the morning-line favorite in the eight-horse Belmont is John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer (Twirling Candy). Winner of the May 15 GI Preakness S., the colt will break from post three and is 3-1 on the morning line. One stall further out in the four-hole is Derby third finisher Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), who was installed as the 7-2 third choice. The fourth choice at 9-2 is expected pacemaker GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby hero Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), who drew post seven.

“In an ideal world, we wanted to be to the outside of Rock Your World since he figures to be leaving there pretty hard, but that didn't happen,” said Doug O'Neill, trainer of Hot Rod Charlie. “We're just grateful to be in the gate and to have [Flavien] Prat and to have the horse doing well … I think it's a very evenly-matched crop. You could throw a blanket over about 10 of them on any given day that could jump up and leave the group. I'm biased of course, but I think 'Charlie' is top-tier.”

Todd Pletcher will saddle three of the eight in the 1 1/2-mile Classic, with rail-drawn GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter Bourbonic (Bernardini, 15-1), GI Curlin Florida Derby scorer Known Agenda (Curlin, 6-1) in post six and Overtook (Curlin) widest out in the eight-hole at 20-1. Japanese hope France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) is the longest shot on the morning line at 30-1 and will break from post five.

“I don't think the post positions matter so much with my three,” said Pletcher. “I think, of all the Triple Crown events, post position is least important here, especially in an eight-horse field. I was happy with all the posts. I think the real key is we need an honest pace and there are three of four horses in here who will try to be prominently placed early and if they set an honest pace, I think that will help all three of mine.”

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