belmont park | Horse Racing Free Tips

Frank’s Rockette Blasts Off In Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, Leaving Older Rivals Behind

Frank's Rockette made quick work of older females in Saturday's Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, galloping away from the field with minimal encouragement from jockey Junior Alvarado. The 3-year-old was heavily favored at 1-5 when the gates opened, and validated horseplayers' confidence as she assumed a stalking third position out of the gate in the six and a half furlong contest. A quarter mile in, she took over second from rival Bertranda. A quarter of a mile later, Alvarado asked the Bill Mott trainee for a bit of run, and she easily surpassed front-running Pacific Gale, taking the two path to an easy lead just out of the turn and quickly putting at least eight lengths on the field, then gearing down before the wire to an easy canter.

The final time was 1:16.12. Honor Way finished second, followed by Royal Charlotte.

Frank's Rockette paid $2.70 to win.

The race was the fourth win in a row for Frank's Rockette, following her victories in the G2 Prioress, G3 Victory Ride and an allowance/optional claimer this spring. She has never finished out of the money for owner/breeder Frank Fletcher. Her record includes second-place efforts in last year's G1 Frizette, Spinaway, and Adirondack.

The Gallant Bloom was the second win on the card for Alvarado.

Frank's Rockette is the Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief and Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone.

See the full chart here.

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Tiz The Law Breezes Quick Five Furlongs In :57.87 On Friday At Belmont Park

Sackatoga Stable's New York-bred hero Tiz the Law breezed a bullet five-furlongs in 57.87 seconds on Friday morning at Belmont Park.

Piloted by exercise rider Heather Smullen over the fast main track, the four-time Grade 1-winning son of Constitution worked under overcast skies and light rain in preparation for his next engagement, which is scheduled to take place in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland.

“I didn't want to see him go that fast, but he came out of the work well,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He scoped well and everything is going good with him.”

Tiz the Law has put together a notable sophomore campaign which includes victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20, where he became the first Empire State-bred to win the American Classic in 138 years, and the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

Tiz the Law was a last-out second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs, which Tagg and Sackatoga won in 2003 with New York-bred Funny Cide.

Tagg said Tiz the Law would likely work back either next Friday or Saturday.

During his juvenile campaign, Tiz the Law was a first-out winner against his New York-bred counterpart exactly one calendar year prior to his Runhappy Travers triumph en route to a score in the Grade 1 Champagne last October at Belmont Park. A $110,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling Sale, Tiz the Law has amassed $2,615,300 in purse earnings.

Bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the Tiznow broodmare Tizfiz.

Tagg is poised for a potentially exciting weekend as he will saddle contenders in a pair of graded stakes on Saturday at Belmont.

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna Pressman's Step Dancer will try open company in the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for juveniles.

Step Dancer posted a 3 ½-length upset win on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden event for state-breds over a Mellon turf course at Saratoga rated good. The 2-year-old son of War Dancer came from 11 lengths off the pace to secure the win at 24-1 odds.

“He's a New York-bred and I've had some New York-breds do pretty well against open company,” Tagg quipped. “He won his first start rather easily, so we put him in the Pilgrim.”

Bred in New York by Sugar Plum Farm and Richard Pressman, Step Dancer is out of the English Channel mare Just Be Steppin. Jockey Dylan Davis was up for the debut win and will return aboard Step Dancer from post 7 in the eight-horse field.

Joyce B. Young, Gerald McManis and Jerrie Stewart McManis' Highland Sky will attempt an elusive Grade 1 victory in Saturday's 12-furlong $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a race where he finished fourth in 2018.

The 7-year-old dark bay son of Sky Mesa came close to striking Grade 1 gold during his sophomore campaign, where he was second beaten a neck in the 2016 Belmont Derby Invitational.

An 8 ¼-length winner of last year's John's Call at Saratoga, which was taken off the turf, Highland Sky arrives at the Joe Hirsch off a runner-up placing in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga.

“He's an old timer now but I've always wanted to win the Joe Hirsch,” Tagg said. “He'll be in pretty tough. He likes soft turf and he likes the mud if they take it off the grass.”

Highland Sky boasts a solid pedigree that Tagg is quite familiar with. He trained the graded stakes-placed dam Kristi With a K, who also produced graded stakes placed Tagg trainee Highland Glory – a full sister to Highland Sky – as well as Grade 1 winners Miss Josh and Bit of Whimsy, and graded stakes winners Highland Springs and Highland Crystal.

“That family has been very good to us over the years,” Tagg said.

Highland Sky boasts lifetime earnings of $781,044 in a 29-5-4-5 career. He will be ridden by Junior Alvarado, who has been aboard the horse for his last two efforts.

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Kentucky Downs Stakes Winner Plum Ali Returns In Sunday’s Miss Grillo

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali brings a perfect 2-for-2 record into Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Miss Grillo, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juvenile fillies, at Belmont Park.

The Miss Grillo is one of three graded events on Sunday's lucrative 10-race program which also features the Grade 2, $150,000 Beldame at nine furlongs on Big Sandy for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upwards and the Grade 3, $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and upward.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali graduated on July 23 with a two-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the Saratoga turf under Joel Rosario. The First Samurai chestnut then shipped to Kentucky Downs to capture the one-mile Mint Juvenile Fillies by 2 ¾-lengths on September 7 with Tyler Gaffalione up.

Plum Ali exited her stakes score to post a pair of half-mile breezes on the Belmont inner turf including a 49.22-second breeze on September 7 with Jose Ortiz up, who will have the call from post 8.

“She's doing great. Jose Ortiz will ride and he has breezed her twice,” said Clement. “She's a very nice filly and was impressive last time. We're excited about her. She seems to handle the mile and a sixteenth.”

Clement said the filly has demonstrated talent and consistency through her first two starts.

“As she continues to run against better horses, we may find a limit, but for the moment we're keeping the dream alive,” said Clement.

Bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, Plum Ali is out of the Stroll mare Skipping and was purchased for $65,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Godolphin homebred Lovestruck, a regally bred Tapit gray out of the Mr. Prospector mare Love Style, is a half-sister to the late multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and prominent sire Scat Daddy.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Lovestruck had an eventful debut in a 1 1/16-mile inner turf maiden on September 7 at Saratoga where she was steadied leaving the gate before finding a good inside tracking position in sixth under Junior Alvarado.

Lovestruck tipped out for a rugged stretch run that saw the filly in tight with Miss Grillo-rival Freedomofthepress, requiring Alvarado to angle out where she bumped firmly with another rival, Mrs. Frankel, before powering home to a one-length victory following an inquiry.

Lovestruck has breezed twice on the Oklahoma dirt training track following her debut score, including a half-mile effort in 49.25 on September 8. Alvarado retains the mount from the inside post.

Director's Cut, who made her first three starts for trainer Tim Hamm and co-owner WinStar Farm, was purchased privately by film producer Gary Barber, the co-founder of Spyglass Entertainment and now the CEO of Spyglass Media, and transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse for her New York debut.

The Exaggerator bay, bred in Kentucky by WinStar, graduated at second asking when stretched out to one mile on the Gulfstream Park turf rated good on July 23 where she bested Sleek Lynx, who is trained by Casse and owned by Barber.

Director's Cut followed with a closing second in the Sharp Susan on August 29 at one mile on firm Gulfstream green in a race won by Spanish Loveaffair, who is also trained by Casse and co-owned by Barber.

“We had run against her and really liked her. We reached out to WinStar about buying her and now we have her,” said Casse. “I thought she had ran well. We really liked both of our fillies she ran against and she has a nice pedigree.”

The talented bay breezed a half-mile in 49.77 on September 27 on the Belmont inner turf and will be piloted in the Miss Grillo by Dylan Davis from post 5.

“We've had her for about a month now and she breezed well the other day at Belmont,” said Casse. “I think the mile and a sixteenth will help her.”

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who will saddle Editor At Large and Freedomofthepress, has captured seven of the last eight runnings of the Miss Grillo and eight overall with past winners including Maram [2008], Watsdachances [2012], Testa Rossi [2013], Lady Eli [2014], New Money Honey [2016], Significant Form [2017], Newspaperofrecord [2018] and Selflessly [2019].

Peter Brant's Editor At Large, an Irish-bred Lope de Vega chestnut, earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating at first asking in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on September 7 on the Saratoga turf. Manny Franco picks up the mount from post 9.

Klaravich Stables' Freedomofthepress, by Mshawish, was purchased for $170,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She stayed on strong to finish second behind Lovestruck in her September 7 debut and will have the services of Belmont fall meet leading rider Jose Lezcano from post 6 as she looks to graduate in style.

Shortleaf Stable's Caldee, a More Than Ready bay, was fifth on debut when sprinting on the Saratoga main track on July 19. The Kentucky homebred followed with an impressive front-running score when stretched to 1 1/16-miles on the Saratoga turf on August 23 which garnered a field-best 78 Beyer.

Trained by Brad Cox, Caldee will exit post 4 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who was aboard for both previous starts.

Rounding out the field is Mashnee Stable's New York homebred Mashnee Girl, winner of a restricted off-the-turf maiden sprint on September 3 at Saratoga for trainer Mark Hennig. The Air Force Blue bay will have the services of Eric Cancel from post 3.

Paul Pompa, Jr.'s Fifth Risk, trained by Todd Pletcher, is entered for the main-track only.

The Grade 2 Miss Grillo is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:50 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Point Of Honor Chasing Elusive Winner’s Circle Photo In Sunday’s Beldame

Graded stakes-winner Point of Honor has displayed consistency all year long, but seeks a first win of 2020 when taking on Grade 1-winner Dunbar Road in Sunday's 80th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Beldame for older fillies and mares over the main track at Belmont Park.

The Beldame is named in honor of August Belmont, Jr.'s champion filly who earned 1904 Horse of the Year honors by winning prestigious races like the Alabama, the Gazelle and the Carter against males. The 1 1/8-mile test is one of three graded stakes carded for Sunday's program which also includes the Grade 2, $150,000 Miss Grillo for juvenile fillies at 1 1/16 miles over the turf and the Grade 3, $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint for older horses going six furlongs over the turf.

The Beldame has seen numerous fillies and mares come through with victories en route to champion honors over the years including Champion Older Females Lady's Secret (1986), Personal Ensign (1987-88), Hidden Lake (1997), Beautiful Pleasure (1999), Riboletta (2000), Ashado (2005), Fleet Indian (2006), Havre de Grace (2011) and Royal Delta (2012). Fillies such as Go for Wand (1990), Saratoga Dew (1992), Heavenly Prize (1994), Serena's Song (1995) and Yank's Music (1996) have won the Beldame against elders to became Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in their respective years. Other all-time great distaffers to have won the Beldame include Gallorette (1946), Cicada (1962), Gamely (1968-69), Shuvee (1970), Susan's Girl (1972, 1975), and Desert Vixen (1973-74).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing's Point of Honor has been a hard-knocking filly in 2020, finishing in the money in all four of her starts this season but is still seeking her first victory of the year. The George Weaver trainee has not won since taking the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last May at Pimlico and arrives at the Beldame off three straight placings against Grade 1 company. Her last effort was a third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 1 at Saratoga, where she finished 6 ½ lengths behind Vexatious and 2019 Champion Older Filly Midnight Bisou.

“She seems to respond well to space in between races,” said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “She's been able to sustain a pretty solid campaign this season, and even though she hasn't won, she's run some pretty exceptional races.”

Point is Honor is by multiple champion-producing stallion Curlin, who also produced Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' three-time Grade 1 winner and 2015 Beldame runner-up Curalina.

“I'd say that they're similar in the sense that they're elite fillies with an incredible amount of class, intelligence, stay and can manage to put together incredible campaigns like the two of them did at three and four,” Wellman said. “We're just fortunate to have had two daughters of Curlin of this caliber. We've campaigned Point of Honor ambitiously and she's come so close to winning a Grade 1. It would be a huge honor to have a race like the Beldame on her resume.”

No plans have been made concerning a 5-year-old campaign from Point of Honor, but Wellman said that she has been nominated to go through the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on November 8.

“We keep an open mind as it relates to these types of situations with top tier fillies like Point of Honor,” Wellman said. “Right now, our main focus is the Beldame which is an important race and a historic race, and we would love to prove victorious there and take things step by step. In addition, we'd love for her to earn her way to the Breeders' Cup, but for now the Beldame is our main focus.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, a three-time Beldame winner, has piloted Point of Honor in eight of her 10 lifetime starts and will return, riding from post 4.

“Javier knows her so well,” Wellman said. “She's definitely a filly that strategically is more effective when you let her find herself early in the race. I think we'll keep her with the same tactics employed and hopefully some speed manifests and sets it up. She was beaten a nose in the Ogden Phipps, which was a mile and a sixteenth. We get a little more real estate to work with this time around.”

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road arrives at the Beldame off a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 11, where she won under a hand ride by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Trained by Chad Brown, who won the 2018 Beldame with Brant's Chilean-bred Wow Cat, the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road is unbeaten in both of her starts this season. Prior to the Delaware Handicap, she emerged from a 6 ½-month layoff to take the May 23 Shawnee at Churchill Downs, defeating Grade 1-winner She's a Julie and graded stakes winner Chocolate Kisses.

Dunbar Road, who has been favored in seven of her nine lifetime starts, also will attempt to keep an unbeaten record over Big Sandy intact having bested a first-level allowance field last May en route to her first graded stakes score in the Grade 2 Mother Goose one month later. She subsequently struck Grade 1 gold in taking the Alabama over Point of Honor and next-out Grade 1-winner Street Band.

Only dollars short of millionaire status, Dunbar Road boasts the highest lifetime earnings in the field with $998,040 and a record of 9-6-1-1.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who piloted Beldame winners Belle Gallantey (2014), Elate (2017) and Wow Cat (2018), will seek his sixth victory aboard Dunbar Road from post 2.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle New Jersey-bred Horologist for the ownership group of There's a Chance Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Medallion Racing.

The 4-year-old Gemologist bay made her debut for Mott in style two starts back when taking the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 18 at Monmouth Park while garnering a career-best 102 Beyer. While conditioned by original trainer John Mazza, Horologist won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last August en route to a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing. She arrives at the Beldame off a third in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs, where she finished 4 ½ lengths to 2018 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Monomoy Girl.

Jockey Junior Alvarado will be aboard for the first time from post 5.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is tied for the most Beldame victories with former mentor Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas with five wins apiece, but a win with Nonna Madeline would make him the standalone winningest trainer in the race's 80-year history.

Pletcher's quintet of Beldame winners include Ashado (2005), Fleet Indian (2006), Unbridled Belle (2007), Life At Ten (2010) and Princess of Sylmar (2013).
Owned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias Stable, Nonna Madeline will attempt to make amends after a disappointing eighth as the lukewarm favorite in the Grade 3 Shuvee on August 30 at Saratoga. The two-time graded stakes placed daughter of Candy Ride won the restricted Summer Colony at the Spa two starts back over graded stakes winners Golden Award and Bellera.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Nonna Madeline is out of the multiple black type-producing Storm Cat mare Cool Storm and is a half sister to graded stakes winner Nonna Mela. Purchased for $130,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Nonna Madeline hails from the prestigious broodmare line of La Troienne and is a direct descendant of champion Numbered Account.

Jockey Manny Franco will make his debut aboard Nonna Madeline from post 3.

Completing the field is St. George Stable's Letruska, who will attempt to mimic her victory in the Grade 3 Shuvee last out. Sure to show speed, the 4-year-old daughter of Super Saver won the Shuvee in gate-to-wire fashion and displayed the same frontrunning style in her triumphs in the June 27 Added Elegance at Gulfstream Park and the Copa Invitacional del Caribe on December 9 at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska was unbeaten when campaigned in Mexico, where she was a two-time Group 1 winner.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche has the mount from post 1.

The Beldame is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:50 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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