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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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Rebel’s Romance Posts Solid Work For Belmont Stakes

All four of trainer Charlie Appleby's Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – breezed Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from June 3 through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

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.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the Belmont Stakes, breezed on the fast main track in company with Grade 2, $300,000 True North hopeful Desert Peace.

The pair visited Big Sandy at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe piloting a tracking Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot guiding the more forward Desert Peace. NYRA clockers captured the pair in 1:01.05 and out in 1:14.

“They went out early at 5:30 to try and get a good track. They worked six furlongs and the time was good. They're getting better in their fitness,” said Appleby's traveling assistant Sophie Chretien. “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 on Wednesday on the Belmont main track.

“It's normal for them,” said Chretien of the quick work back. “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, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares on June 5.

The fillies breezed six furlongs in company on the firm inner turf with Summer Romance [Metcalfe] tracking outside of Althiqa [Pot] and finishing up very strong in 1:14.20.

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 post Rebel’s Romance Posts Solid Work For Belmont Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maxfield on Target for Foster

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense), last seen romping in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Apr. 30, remains on track for that venue's GII Stephen Foster S. June 26. “We brought him over to Keeneland after [GI Kentucky] Derby week at Churchill and we are targeting the Stephen Foster,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “He'll make his way back to Churchill and we'll likely work him Saturday. I think the timing of this race works out well for us because it's the same timing following his race in the [Mar. 6 GI] Santa Anita H. [where here finished third as the favorite]. We know he loves it here at Churchill and I think with age and time he can keep improving.”

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What’s In A Name? Seize the Night, Someday Is Today, Caravel, Que Sera Sir Ralph, Heresy

As for intriguing names of winning horses, that was the week that was.

Let's start with the seminal power of those two immortal little words Carpe Diem ('Seize The Day'} from Ancient Rome prince of poets Horace (65-8 BC)–also responsible for Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori ('It is sweet and fitting to die for the homeland'), written only a few years after having run away, throwing the shield on the ground, at the battle of Philippi (42 BC).

Two horses creatively honored the WinStar stallion Carpe Diem (by Giant's Causeway out of Rebridled Dreams by Unbridled's Song): Churchill Downs 5-14 2yo winner SEIZE THE NIGHT (by Carpe Diem out of Candle Maker by Tapit) cleverly switched day with night with some help from his dam's name, while Charles Town 5-13 3yo winning filly SOMEDAY IS TODAY (by Carpe Diem out of Any Day Now by Smart Strike) sounds like an eloquent exhortation based on both father's and mother's names.

Then we have the nautical congruity of the name of Pimlico's The Very One S. triumphant speed merchant CARAVEL (by Mizzen Mast out of Zeezee Zoomzoom by Congrats). Caravels, Portuguese-developed ships that were “agile and easy to navigate” (according to Wikipedia), ventured across the oceans in the 13th century with notorious epoch-making results. The mizzen mast is the aft-most (or last) mast of many sailing ships, lower in height and well suited to carry a relatively small lateen (triangular) sail in those adventurous caravels.

The name of Golden Gate 3-year-old winner QUE SERA SIR RALPH (by Haynesfield out of Norah's Kitten by Kitten's Joy) is a phonetical little masterpiece of wordplay–Doris Day would approve of it and maybe smile her famous smile.

Down Under winner HERESY (AUS) {by Street Boss out of Montsegur {Aus} by New Approach {Ire}) carries a cunning name. The Chateau de Montsegur is a former fortress in the Ariege department in southern France. Its ruins are the site of a razed stronghold of the Cathars, unorthodox Christians that were persecuted as heretics by the Catholic Church between the 12th and the 14th centuries. Godolphin namers, do not make me work this hard–this was a tough one, I almost missed it.

And, last but absolutely not least, we have our brilliant Preakness winner. A few people have noticed a possible link with a precious Napa Valley Chardonnay–and this number includes the national daily newspaper USA TODAY, who ran a story before the race about the 10 Preakness participants, ranking their names for “originality, prestige and more” (Concert Tour was first, the winner fourth). The ultimate origin of the very name ROMBAUER is not clear and may be never known, but, in any case, the name has a great sound to it: it evokes 'roar' and 'rumble' and 'blast'. It is greatly suited to a sporting spectacle: not for nothing, “Rombo Di Tuono” ('Roar of Thunder') was the nickname of Italian soccer legendary goal scorer Gigi Riva. Never ask for whom the crowd roars: it roars for the winner, dark horse or not.

5th-Churchill Downs, $99,058, Msw, 5-14, 2yo, 5f, :58.81, ft, head.
SEIZE THE NIGHT (c, 2, Carpe Diem–Candle Maker, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. O-Willis Horton Racing LLC; B-Cove Springs Farm LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart.

Someday Is Today, f, 3, Carpe Diem–Any Day Now, by Smart Strike. Charles Town, 5-13, (S), 6 1/2f, 1:19.94. Lifetime
Record: 2-1-1-0, $26,145. B-Schiano Racing Inc. & Carpe Diem Syndicate (WV). *$50,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $30,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT

THE VERY ONE S., $100,000, Pimlico, 5-14, 3yo/up, f/m, 5fT, :56.21, fm.
1–CARAVEL, 122, f, 4, Mizzen Mast–Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats. ($330,000 RNA 3yo '20 WANOCT). O/B/T-Elizabeth M Merryman (PA); J-Florent Geroux. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-2, $212,872.

Que Sera Sir Ralph, g, 3, Haynesfield–Norah's Kitten, by Kitten's Joy. Golden Gate Fields, 5-14, 1 1/16mT, 1:47.03. Lifetime Record: 8-1-0-2, $31,154. B-Richard James & Roberto Gonzalez (CA).

Heresy (Aus), f, 2, Street Boss–Montsegur (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $267,703), by New Approach (Ire). Morphettville, 5-15, David Coles AM S.-G3 ($99k), 1200mT, 1:10.78. B-Godolphin Australia (NSW). *1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN.

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