belmont | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Surprised’ Irad Ortiz Tests Positive For COVID-19, Return To Racing Delayed

Serving a suspension from Sept. 18 through Oct. 3 for a pair of careless riding incidents earlier this year, champion jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was scheduled to return to the saddle on Sunday. Instead, the Daily Racing Form's David Grening reported Wednesday that Ortiz tested positive for COVID-19 in a test taken Monday, and will be self-isolating for an additional 10 days.

Agent Steve Rushing said Ortiz is displaying no symptoms, and hopes to return by Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

“He was as surprised as anyone when he found out,” Rushing told drf.com.

Sept. 27 Insights

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HALF TO WHITMORE DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL

4th-CD, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:14p.m.

Ron Moquett unveils a half-brother to his stable star Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in SKIP INTRO (Liam’s Map). The $190,000 KEESEP buy’s talented older sibling has captured 10 graded events so far for earnings over $3.1-million. Juddmonte homebred Floriform (Into Mischief) also debuts in this test. The bay is out of MSP July Jasmine (Empire Maker), who is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Rob Roy (Lear Farn). TJCIS PPs

MOTT UNVEILS GODOLPHIN BLUE-BLOOD

7th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 4:08 p.m.

Godolphin homebred HIGHWAY BOUND (Into Mischief) makes his career bow for Bill Mott in this spot. Out of MGISW Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), the bay is a half to GSW Lake Avenue (Tapit) and GISP Marking (Bernardini). His dam is a half to G1SW Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) and the dam of GISW American Gal (Concord Point). Todd Pletcher unveils St. Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin) in this test. The chestnut is out of GISW Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}), who is a half-sister to GSW Klammer (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Run Smitty Run (American Pharoah)–a half-brother to GISW Declassify (Orientate) and GSW Life’s a Parlay (Uncle Mo)–also debuts here. TJCIS PPs

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Tiz The Law Posts ‘Nice, Easy’ First Breeze Since Finishing Second In Kentucky Derby

Sackatoga Stable's four-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law was back to work on Friday morning to record his first breeze since finishing second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs with a half-mile work over a fast main track at Belmont Park.

Under mostly sunny skies, the 3-year-old son of Constitution covered four furlongs in 50.07 seconds with regular exercise rider Heather Smullen aboard.

“It was a nice, easy work,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “I wasn't looking for much. I just wanted him to go out there and stretch his legs. He hadn't done anything in three weeks.”

Prior to his last-out second in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 1 1/4-lengths back to Authentic, Tiz the Law had won his prior four starts this season in dominant fashion taking the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby, both at Gulfstream Park, before a sensational 3 ¾-length victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 ahead of a 5 ½-length romp in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga.

During his 2-year-old season, Tiz the Law won the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park in his second start after besting fellow New York-breds in his career debut at Saratoga.

The connections of Tiz the Law opted to bypass the Grade 1 Preakness on October 3 at Pimlico, and instead will train up to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, where he will face older horses for the first time. He will attempt to become the 13th 3-year-old to score a victory in the Classic.

Bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the graded stakes winning Tiznow mare Tizfiz and was purchased for $110,000 from the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale of New York-breds.

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Arriaga Hopes $16,000 Claim Share The Ride Continues To Improve In Vosburgh

Share the Ride, trained by Antonio Arriaga for Silvino Ramirez, enters Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Vosburgh at Belmont Park off a sparkling front-running performance in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park that garnered a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding, bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farms, set splits of 22.45 and 44.94 under Ferrin Peterson in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector en route to a 3 3/4-length win in a final time of 1:09.18.

Arriaga said he was surprised to see such fast fractions last out.

“We didn't expect that,” said Arriaga. “He was supposed to go easy to the front, but she sent him all the way and the horse was doing it comfortable.”

Manny Franco will take over on Saturday from post 4 in a six-horse field led by Firenze Fire and the John Terranova-trained duo of Funny Guy and Stan the Man.

Arriaga said he will let the 2020 Belmont Stakes-winning rider dictate the tactics.

“He can come from off the pace too but let's see what Manny has to say. He's been riding really good,” said Arriaga.

Share the Ride was claimed for $16,000 on July 5 out of a winning effort in a Monmouth Park sprint. He followed with a good second in an optional-claiming sprint on August 9 at first asking for new connections ahead of two even efforts on the Monmouth turf when fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Get Serious on August 23 and fifth in the one-mile Grade 3 Red Bank on September 5.

Arriaga said the addition of blinkers for his last two starts is the only major change in equipment for Share the Ride since the claim.

“We put the blinkers on but other than that it took him a month to start eating well when we first claimed him,” said Arriaga. “Some horses when they get older, they get better. Good horses get better if you take care of them the right way, feed them the right way and spoil them and they're happy.”

After winning the Mr. Prospector on one week's rest, Share the Ride returns to action in the Vosburgh with two weeks between starts.

“He's doing good,” said Arriaga. “He gallops and jogs. With these fast horses, I try not to work them too much because they can blow their race in the workout if they go fast.”

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