Tag: Belmont Stakes

Cox: Belmont Stakes Triumph Can Add To Essential Quality’s Legacy

The last few years have brought trainer Brad Cox to new heights of the sport. Cox has saddled multiple high-quality graded stakes winners, with Essential Quality among his highlights. The Tapit colt will look to add to that legacy and give Cox his first win in a Triple Crown race when he competes in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from Thursday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes. 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.

A potential favorite for the Belmont, Essential Quality started his career 5-for-5 before running a competitive fourth last out in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, finishing just one length back to winner Medina Spirit in the 1 1/4-mile first leg of the Triple Crown.

The Godolphin homebred earned the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old after winning the G1 Breeders' Futurity in October at Keeneland and followed with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile over fellow Belmont Stakes-contender Hot Rod Charlie.

Essential Quality was one of four Breeders' Cup winners for Cox in 2020, with Monomoy Girl [Distaff], Knicks Go [Dirt Mile] and Aunt Peal [Juvenile Fillies Turf] also getting their picture taken. That successful weekend at Keeneland helped earn Cox his first career Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.

“This horse has put us in this position and we feel very fortunate to be a part of it,” Cox said. “He's accomplished so much already, being a champion 2-year-old. But at some point, he'll be retired to stud and it's our job now to continue to add to his legacy. A Grade 1 win at 3 is going to be huge for this horse and we're hopeful it can happen in the Belmont.”

Cox will be saddling his first contender in a Belmont Stakes, which this year returns to its famed 1 1/2-mile distance. He has come close to winning an American Classic twice, with Owendale running third in the 2019 Preakness and Mandaloun finishing second, just a half-length back to Medina Spirit, in the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Mandaloun will not be part of the Belmont Stakes field, but Essential Quality, with earnings of more than $2.4 million through six starts, gives his conditioner a formidable contender.

“It's a great feeling to be in this position and have a realistic shot,” Cox said. “He gives us a fantastic opportunity on Saturday.”

Essential Quality is expected to arrive at Belmont on Tuesday morning. The Kentucky bred breezed five furlongs in 59.40 seconds on Saturday over the Churchill Downs main track. That bullet work was in company with 4-year-old filly Bonny South, who will also be shipping to New York to run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps going 1 1/16 miles on Belmont Stakes Day as part of a “Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup qualifier for the Distaff.

“He had a great work Saturday and looked great Sunday morning,” Cox said. “He'll ship Monday afternoon. But he breezed great and we're going in the right direction.”

Essential Quality has improved his Beyer Speed Figures in each of his six starts, culminating with his first triple-digit number when earning a 100 for his “Run for the Roses” performance.

Other expected contenders for Cox on a loaded 13-race Saturday card that will feature nine graded stakes and eight G1 contests will be Shedaresthedevil, who is also targeting the Ogden Phipps; Knicks Go for the G1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan that's a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile; two-time G2 winner Travel Column for the G1, $500,000 Acorn for sophomore fillies going a one-turn mile; and Caddo River, fresh off the Triple Crown trail, shortening to seven furlongs for the G1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.

Cox will also send out Kinenos for the two-mile G2, $500,000 Belmont Gold Cup for 4-year-olds and up on the Widener turf course on Friday.

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

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

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No Belmont Stakes For Keepmeinmind: Turf May Be In Colt’s Future

Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind, with exercise rider Walter Davila up, worked a half-mile in 46.92 seconds from the gate over a sloppy Belmont dirt training track Monday morning.

Initially under consideration for the Belmont Stakes, Diodoro said the Laoban colt will have his next work on turf with an eye towards a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational at 10 furlongs on turf for sophomores. The first leg of NYRA's lucrative Turf Triple series is slated for July 10.

“He worked great this morning, but thinking about it some more, I think he needs a little more time,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “We were always 50-50 for the race, but I think as soon as we arrived at Belmont people got the impression we were leaning towards that race and it really wasn't the case.”

NYRA clockers caught Keepmeinmind, who was a step slow out of the gate, through an opening quarter-mile in 23.40 and out five furlongs in 59.98.

“He went pretty well this morning. He always trains really well. The track was a little wet,” said Davila.

Diodoro said the nine-furlong Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 26 at JACK Thistledown is still a possibility, but he would like to see Keepmeinmind work on the Belmont grass and continue to hone his gate skills.

“The gate crew has been really good with us up at Belmont on working with him breaking from the gate, but he still broke a step slow this morning,” said Diodoro. “I don't know if he's ever going to change that, but the gate crew will get to know him better and we're not rushing him into next Saturday. We'll work him on the grass and go from there.”

The Kentucky-bred graduated in style with a rallying effort to win the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at fourth asking in November at Churchill Downs to close out his juvenile campaign.

Winless in four sophomore starts, including a fifth in the Grade 2 Blue Grass in April at Keeneland, the late-running bay finished seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and closed to finish fourth last out in the Grade 1 Preakness after a troubled start.

Diodoro said Keepmeinmind's regular rider David Cohen suggested turf as a possibility for the colt.

“Cohen mentioned that this horse could be a grass horse and a couple of the gallop boys have said the same thing. I'm curious to see what happens,” Diodoro said. “He's a big 3-year-old and he's a big baby, still. I think with time he's only going to get better. We'll take a step back and let him develop.”

Diodoro will also be represented on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard by Flying P Stable's Lone Rock in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health, a 12-furlong test for 4-year-olds and up on Big Sandy.

The 10-time winner from 32 career starts posted a half-mile breeze in 48.11 on Saturday over the sloppy Belmont main track.

“He's doing great. He worked great up there the other day and he's ready to go,” said Diodoro.

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Hot Rod Charlie, Rock Your World Among West Coast Shippers Arriving At Belmont Park

West Coast-based Hot Rod Charlie and Rock Your World, along with a number of talented stablemates, arrived in New York Saturday night to begin final preparations for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from Thursday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes. 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.

Trainer Doug O'Neill shipped Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds' Hot Rod Charlie along with McShane Racing's Stubbins, a contender for the G1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur. Also along for the trip is the popular Hall of Famer Lava Man, a multiple G1 winner with more than $5.2 million in purse earnings now employed as a pony.

The trio arrived on the grounds at Belmont Park just before 8 p.m. Eastern on a wet Saturday evening.

O'Neill said all three have settled in well, in particular Hot Rod Charlie, who finished a strong third last out in the G1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

“They all look in good shape. It's a big hurdle cleared,” said O'Neill. “I think he's [Hot Rod Charlie] put on weight. He looks phenomenal. He's training well and doing well.”

A dark bay son of Oxbow, Hot Rod Charlie closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a closing second to Belmont Stakes-rival Essential Quality in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 6 at Keeneland.

Bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Cox, Hot Rod Charlie launched his sophomore season with a third in the G3 Robert B. Lewis, just a neck behind eventual Kentucky Derby-winner Medina Spirit in the 1 1/16-mile test on January 30 at Santa Anita.

He followed with a two-length score in the 1 3/16-mile G2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 20 ahead of his Derby effort.

On Friday, Hot Rod Charlie breezed five-eighths in 1:00.40 in company during an afternoon workout on the Santa Anita main track, easily pulling away from his workmate in a strong gallop out.

O'Neill said the breeze is an indication of a horse developing an understanding of his role.

“I think early on in his career he was more comfortable as a pack horse and running with the group. He'd never get tired, but he just kept hanging with the other horses,” said O'Neill. “Recently, he's very comfortable separating himself from other horses and I think that's a great trait that he's added and it's necessary to win big races. That's what I saw when he pulled away from his work mate.”

Flavien Prat, who piloted Belmont Stakes-rival Rombauer to victory in the G1 Preakness, has chosen to ride Hot Rod Charlie on Saturday. O'Neill said he's delighted to have retained Prat's services for the grueling 1 1/2-mile event.

“Generally, the pace is a lot slower going 12 furlongs but that's where having Prat helps. Not only is he a phenomenal rider, but he's riding with so much confidence right now, and he has so much confidence in this colt,” said O'Neill. “If he breaks clean, he should be forwardly placed. If they're flying, he'll back off it. If not, he should be pretty close the whole way around.”

O'Neill said Hot Rod Charlie will likely jog on the training track on Monday before some light gallops on the main track later in the week.

Stubbins, a 5-year-old son of Morning Line, boasts a record of 14-4-2-3 with purse earnings of $528,051. The dark bay finished a prominent fourth to returning rival Oleksandra in last year's Jaipur, a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In event offering a berth in the G1 Turf Sprint.

Stubbins will make his seasonal debut off a trio of sharp works at Santa Anita, including a six-furlong effort in 1:14.80 Friday on the main track.

“He's fresh and he's been working well,” said O'Neill. “He'll probably jog the whole week to keep him fresh and happy.”

The 20-year-old Lava Man was calm, cool and collected Sunday morning taking in his new surroundings.

“He's such a cool horse. He really seems to like it here,” said O'Neill.

Also arriving on Saturday evening was a trio of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival contenders conditioned by John Sadler led by Hronis Racing and David Michael Talla's G1 Santa Anita Derby-winner Rock Your World, who will look to make amends after a tough break from the gate last out when 17th in the Kentucky Derby.

He was joined on the journey by Hronis Racing and Lane's End Racing's multiple graded stakes winner Flagstaff, who is pointed to Friday's G2, $300,000 True North; and Woodford Racing's Campaign, who will start in the G2, $400,000 Brooklyn presented by Northwell Health on Belmont Stakes Day.

Sadler's travelling assistant Enrique Miranda said the trio are in good order.

“Everybody has settled in really well,” said Miranda. “Rock Your World will head out to the track tomorrow. Today, we just walked him a little bit and tomorrow they'll all begin training.”

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

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

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Hot Rod Charlie ‘Getting More And More Confident’ For Team O’Neill

Idle since a close third in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie drilled five furlongs before Friday's first race at Santa Anita in 1:00.48, his final prep for the Grade I Belmont Stakes at a mile and one half a week from Saturday, June 5.

With Flavien Prat aboard, Hot Rod Charlie, who was accompanied by O'Neill's Hall of Fame gelding Lava Man and workmate Liam's Pride, came on Santa Anita's main track via the quarter mile chute at 12:14 p.m. PT, jogged by the Grandstand and was then set down for his work at the five furlong pole with Liam's Pride positioned about two lengths in front of him as a target.

With Prat sitting still, Hot Rod Charlie rattled off splits of 24.06 and 48.32 while gaining the advantage an eighth of a mile from the wire. With Prat remaining motionless, Hot Rod Charlie galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.62.

“Very happy with his breeze today,” said O'Neill. “Flavien was happy with the way he did it and that makes me happy. He had a good strong gallop going into this work and now he's got a strong work and gallop-out going into the race.

“We just want to stay injury-free and we're pumped up and optimistic about a week from tomorrow. This horse is getting more and more confident and he's starting to separate himself from the others. He'll leave Saturday morning at about 3 a.m., along with Lava Man, who's going to take him to the post for the Belmont.”

A winner of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby two starts back on March 20, Hot Rod Charlie, who broke his maiden at Santa Anita going a flat mile in his fourth start on Oct. 2, was third, beaten a neck three starts back by eventual Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes here on Jan. 30.

Owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Ltd, Hot Rod Charlie, who is a Kentucky-bred colt by Oxbow, out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss, is 8-2-1-3, has earnings of $1,305,700.

Prat, who won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on May 15 aboard the Santa Anita-based Rombauer, made the decision to stick with Hot Rod Charlie, who skipped the Preakness, for racing's third and final jewel of the Triple Crown.

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