GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets | Horse Racing Free Tips

France Go De Ina Settling in Well at Belmont

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) visited Belmont's main track for the first time Friday to begin preparations for a start in the June 5 GI Belmont S. Trained by Hideyuki Mori said the Kentucky-bred was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont last Monday following his seventh-place finish in the GI Preakness S.

“It's been 15 years since I've been here,” said the 62-year-old with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter. “I forgot how big it was. 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.”

Japanese-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, France Go de Ina will look to provide Mori with his first win in North America with his eighth starter.

Mori brought Ski Captain to Churchill Downs in 1995 to finish 14th in the GI Kentucky Derby in his first venture to North America.

The 3-year-old is a two-time winner at Hanshin, including a maiden score Nov. 28 and an allowance win Dec. 19. He entered the Preakness off a sixth in the UAE Derby.

Mori expects France Go de Ina to improve off his latest effort following extensive travel to Baltimore for 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. “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.”

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Godolphin Quartet Work Ahead of Belmont Festival

A quartet of Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters–Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Desert Peace (Curlin), Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire})–breezed at Belmont Saturday morning.

G2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the GI Belmont S., breezed on the fast main track in company with GII True North S. contender Desert Peace. Hitting the track at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe aboard Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot on Desert Peace, the pair was caught by NYRA clockers in 1:01.05, galloping out in 1:14.

“They went out early at 5:30 to try and get a good track,” said trainer Charlie Appleby's traveling assistant, Sophie Chretien. “They worked six furlongs and the time was good. They're getting better in their fitness. Rebel stayed at the back of Desert Peace, we didn't want to ask him too hard. But he traveled much better than last time and went out seven-eighths.”

The breeze was a follow-up to the pair's half-mile work in :50.54 Wednesday over the Belmont main track.

“It's normal for them,” said Chretien of the quick return. “It was an easy first breeze and we need to carry on with the race in two weeks. They will go again Wednesday and after that we'll see where we are.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa breezed six furlongs in company on the firm inner turf with the former tracking outside of the latter and finishing up very strong in 1:14.20.

“The fillies went to the grass for the first time today and had a good, strong piece of work,” said Chretien. “They had a good blow. They needed it. I liked the way they moved on the grass. It's been a dry week and the grass is good. They will go again next Saturday.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa finished first and third, respectively, last out in the nine-furlong G2 Balanchine S. Feb. 18 at Meydan and are expected to make their next starts in the GI Longines Just a Game S. June 5.

Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith will have the call aboard Rebel's Romance, Althiqa and Desert Peace, while Luis Saez will ride Summer Romance.

The festival, which runs from June 3 through June 5, will encompass 17 stakes, including eight Grade Is on Belmont S. Day.

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Belmont Post Position Draw June 1

The post-position draw for the GI Belmont S. will be held Tuesday, June 1 at 11 a.m. in the Belmont Cafe at Belmont Park. The 153rd Belmont, which takes place Saturday, June 5, heads a three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off Thursday, June 3 and will include 17 stakes races–including eight Grade Is–to be contested on Belmont day. The post-position draw will be followed by a Q&A session with selected trainers and owners moderated by NYRA.

The Belmont draw will air live on FS2 beginning at 11 a.m. A stream of the draw will be provided on NYRA's YouTube channel.

For more information, contact Pat McKenna.

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Rombauer, ‘France’ Ship Safely to Belmont

Classic hero Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who races for John and Diane Fradkin, shipped in to Belmont Park around 10 a.m. Monday ahead of an intended start in the June 5 $1.5-million GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets. The colt earned a 102 Beyer for his GI Preakness S. heroics at Pimlico Saturday for trainer Michael McCarthy. He will be stabled with trainer Jonathan Thomas. Groom Leonel Orantes Aguilar reported that Rombauer had vanned to New York “very well”.

“It seems like he's in good physical shape,” McCarthy said, who is back at his southern California base. “He was pretty bright and alert on Sunday morning. He's a horse that takes very good care of himself, so we sort of read the signs from him and see what he's telling us. From what I can tell, he's no worse for wear.”

Second in the GI American Pharoah S. from four starts as a juvenile, Rombauer captured the Listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Feb. 13 before a third in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. in early April.

Reflecting on his colt's win he added, “I got a lot of nice messages from people and there were a lot of people that reached out who I hadn't heard from in quite some time, so it was very nice.”

Also arriving at Belmont on Monday was Yuji Inaida's well-traveled France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge), who will also contest the third jewel of the Triple Crown. The chestnut colt, who was sixth in the G2 UAE Derby in March and seventh in the Preakness S., was accompanied by trainer Hideyuki Mori's traveling assistant Masaki Takano. The dual winner will resume training Friday, May 21.

“He seemed to travel really well, it was a trouble free trip,” said Takano through translator Kate Hunter. “This is a good experience for the horse because the racing here is so different. Over the course of the time that he's been here, he's been able to get used to the American style of doing things. That's helped him relax into the routine and hopefully it will lead to a better performance in the future.

“The extra length of the Belmont, and the experience he's gotten from racing once here already, it's likely we'll have a better chance to perform better based off his pedigree. We're looking forward to giving it another go.”

There is a $1-million bonus for any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont.

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