Arrest Me Red has previously found success sitting just behind early leaders, but a change in running style proved just the ticket to win the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational on Oct. 2. Irad Ortiz Jr. took the 3-year-old to the front, fighting Backtohisroots and Pulsate for early command and flattened out to keep clear of Pulsate's late charge in the stretch, as well as a closing effort from Chewing Gum.
Wesley Ward took over training of the 3-year-old colt ahead of his last start, a win in the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga, from Arnaud Delacour. The son of Pioneerof the Nile is a homebred for Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables. He is out of Medaglio d'Oro mare Maraschino Red. His previous credits with Delacour include a win in the Atlantic Beach Stakes.
The final time for the six furlongs was 1:07.86, with fractional times of :22.33, :47.75, and :56.80.
Arrest Me Red paid $6.60 to win. Pulsate was second, and Chewing Gum was third. See the full chart here.
G3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Quotes
Irad Ortiz, Jr., winning jockey aboard Arrest Me Red (No. 2, $6.60): “He relaxed so well. He did everything right, honestly. He broke well from the gate, and I just stayed quiet and relaxed. I was on the front, so I just was biding my time to go. He was travelling perfectly and when I asked him to run, he responded really well. [Trainer] Wesley [Ward] did a great job with him. He's a great guy to ride for.”
Manny Franco, aboard runner-up Pulsate (No. 6): “He was second best. I had a good trip. No excuses. The winner just kept going.”
Eric Cancel, aboard third-place finisher Chewing Gum (No. 7): “I rode him once before and he likes to sit and make one run. That was the same scenario today, so I just tried to keep him in the clear and keep him comfortable and just make one run from the quarter-pole down.”
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