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Rebel’s Romance Posts Solid Work For Belmont Stakes

All four of trainer Charlie Appleby's Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – breezed Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from June 3 through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by 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.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the Belmont Stakes, breezed on the fast main track in company with Grade 2, $300,000 True North hopeful Desert Peace.

The pair visited Big Sandy at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe piloting a tracking Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot guiding the more forward Desert Peace. NYRA clockers captured the pair in 1:01.05 and out in 1:14.

“They went out early at 5:30 to try and get a good track. They worked six furlongs and the time was good. They're getting better in their fitness,” said Appleby's traveling assistant Sophie Chretien. “Rebel stayed at the back of Desert Peace, we didn't want to ask him too hard. But he traveled much better than last time and went out seven-eighths.”

The breeze was a follow-up to the pair's half-mile work in 50.54 on Wednesday on the Belmont main track.

“It's normal for them,” said Chretien of the quick work back. “It was an easy first breeze and we need to carry on with the race in two weeks. They will go again Wednesday and after that we'll see where we are.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares on June 5.

The fillies breezed six furlongs in company on the firm inner turf with Summer Romance [Metcalfe] tracking outside of Althiqa [Pot] and finishing up very strong in 1:14.20.

“The fillies went to the grass for the first time today and had a good, strong piece of work,” said Chretien. “They had a good blow. They needed it. I liked the way they moved on the grass. It's been a dry week and the grass is good. They will go again next Saturday.”

Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith will have the call aboard Rebel's Romance, Althiqa and Desert Peace, while Luis Saez will ride Summer Romance.

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NYRA Announces Special Wagering Menu For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The New York Racing Association announces a selection of special wagers to be offered during the 2021 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

The half dozen two-day wagers are highlighted by the return of the popular two-day Pick 6, which will open on Friday, June 4, and conclude with the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5.

Headlined by the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5, the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 3, and will include 17 stakes races in total with eight Grade 1 races to be contested on Belmont Stakes Day.

Day 1 of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Thursday, June 3, is a twilight racing program with a first post of 3:05 p.m. First post on Friday, June 4 is 12:50 p.m. First post on Belmont Stakes Day is 11:35 a.m.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will offer a total of six two-day special wagers including:

Two-Day Pick 6
Returning to the wagering menu is the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival two-day Pick 6, which features a low 15 percent takeout and $0.20 base wager. The two-day Pick 6 opens on Friday and continues on Saturday, ending with the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

The sequence begins on Friday with the Grade 3, $300,000 True North, the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup and the Grade 2, $750,000 New York. Saturday's three-race sequence will include the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur, the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap and the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Two-Day Pick 4
The two-day Pick 4 opens with the Belmont Gold Cup and the New York on Friday followed by the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday. The base wager is $2 with a 24 percent takeout.

The New York Double
The New York Double opens with the New York on Friday and concludes with the Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday. The base wager is $1 with an 18.5 percent takeout.

Belmont Gold Cup/Belmont Stakes Double
The Belmont Gold Cup/Belmont Stakes Double opens with the Belmont Gold Cup on Friday and concludes with the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday. The base wager is $1 with an 18.5 percent takeout.

Two-Day Filly and Mare Double
The Filly and Mare Double opens with the Grade 3, $300,000 Bed O'Roses on Friday and concludes with the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn on Saturday. The base wager is $1 with an 18.5 percent takeout.

Two-Day Belmont Sprint Double
The two-day Belmont Sprint Double opens with the True North on Friday and concludes with the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency on Saturday. The base wager is $1 with an 18.5 percent takeout.

The traditional $1 Pick 6, with carryover provision, will also be offered on each day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The Pick 6 on Saturday, June 5, will conclude with the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Belmont Stakes Day will feature an early, middle, and late Pick 5, with the middle Pick 5 offering a mandatory payout and concluding with the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

For additional information and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com. For full terms and conditions, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets.

For additional information on health and safety protocols in effect for the 2021 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, please visit: https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets/know-before-you-go.

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Justify’s Half-Brother Stage Raider Could Target Dwyer

Justify's 3-year-old half-brother Stage Raider, a colt sired by Pioneerof the Nile, posted a workmanlike victory in an allowance race on Friday, May 14 at Belmont Park. He won the one-mile contest by three lengths in a final time of 1:38.22.

It was the second win from three starts for the John Gunther-owned homebred, and trainer Chad Brown told the Daily Racing Form that Stage Raider could be pointed to the G3 Dwyer Stakes on July 5 at Belmont for his graded stakes debut.

“The time wasn't going to turn any heads,” Brown told DRF of the allowance win. “He got a good education out of it, being down inside and going up the rail. Sometimes these kinds of horses that still need a little bit of seasoning, that's the most important part of running in these races, to get more experience.”

Sadler Hopes Rock Your World Can ‘Right The Ship’ In Belmont Stakes

Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Friday at Santa Anita in his penultimate drill for the 153rd Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half on June 5.

“He went (five furlongs) in a minute and change, out (three-quarters) in (one) 13 and we're very happy,” said John Sadler, trainer of the Candy Ride colt that was unbeaten until the May 1 Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 17th after being eliminated at the start when sandwiched between two horses from post position 15 in a field of 19.

Rock Your World was ridden in today's breeze by exercise rider Geovanni Grant and went in company with Campaign, who was clocked in 1:01.40.

“His schedule calls for him to work one more time a week from today and ship to New York on Memorial Day weekend,” Sadler said of Rock Your World.

“The Kentucky Derby was over at the start for him,” Sadler rightfully reasoned in recounting the Run for the Roses debacle. “Hopefully we have a good chance to right the ship.”

Rock Your World led throughout the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, winning by 4 ¼ lengths in his debut on the main track. His first two triumphs came on turf and was ridden by Umberto Rispoli in all three races, but in the Kentucky Derby, Joel Rosario was aboard and he retains the mount in the Belmont.

Hot Rod Charlie, third in both the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to work at 7:45 a.m. Saturday in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 5.

Santa Anita's runaway riding leader Flavien Prat, who rode Hot Rod Charlie in the Run for the Roses, also piloted Belmont Stakes-bound Rombauer to an upset victory in the Preakness, but remains on Hot Rod Charlie for the third jewel in the Triple Crown, Doug O'Neill said.

“Flavien will breeze 'Chuck' Saturday,” the two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer said. “If all goes well, the horse will work again the following Friday, then leave for New York a week before the race (on Saturday, May 29).”

Michael McCarthy was contemplating his riding options in the Belmont Stakes for Preakness winner Rombauer, since Flavien Prat, who piloted the Twirling Candy colt to an impressive victory in the second jewel of the Triple Crown on May 15, will ride Hot Rod Charlie in the third and final jewel on June 5.

“Rombauer will work one time before the Belmont, but I don't have a day (in mind),” McCarthy said Thursday by phone from New York, where recent clime has been intermittently inclement.

As to a jockey, with Prat committed to Hot Rod Charlie according to O'Neill, McCarthy said, “I don't have a decision, don't know what the situation is, don't know what the status is yet.”

Post position draw for the Belmont is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2.

Stay tuned.

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