Belmont Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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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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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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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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