Diamond King Putting His Versatility To The Test In True North

Cash is King and LC Racing's Diamond King will turn back in distance for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by John Servis, the 5-year-old Quality Road bay won the one-mile Stymie in March at Aqueduct Racetrack but was off-the-board last out in the one-mile Blame on May 23 at Churchill Downs.

Diamond King last breezed on June 9 at Parx when he posted a swift half-mile in 47.44 seconds. He will again have the services of regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche when he exits the inside post in Saturday's test, which also features Grade 1-winners Promises Fulfilled and Firenze Fire.

Servis said the cut back in distance won't be a problem for the versatile Diamond King, who has won at distances ranging from 5 1/2-furlongs to 1 1/8-miles.

“It's not that big a turnback, he's going from a mile to six and a half,” said Servis. “I'd like it a lot better if we didn't have the one hole.”

Servis said he expects Diamond King to be forwardly placed

“Being in the one hole, it doesn't give you a whole lot of choices. We'll see how it plays out,” said Servis.

Last weekend, Servis saddled multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex to a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, captured by the free-wheeling No Parole.

Servis said Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Swale in February at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Gotham in March at the Big A, has come out of the even effort in good order and he has not yet finalized plans for a possible next start.

“I was a little disappointed with the way he ran. I'm just putting a line through it,” said Servis. “He came out of the race super and we're considering a number of options for his next start.”

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Short, But Talented Field Set for Woody Stephens

The streaking Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) will look for his fourth straight score, third at the graded level, versus four fellow sophomores in Saturday’s GI Woody Stephens S. at Belmont Park.

A jaw-dropping seven-length winner of Gulfstream’s GIII Swale S. at this same seven-furlong distance, the speedy bay outslugged 10 rivals for a sharp decision in the GIII Gotham S. going a one-turn mile last time at the Big A Mar. 7.

“I’d love to be running in the Belmont,” trainer John Servis said. “But I wanted to run him shorter first back off the layoff and then stretch him out after that. The Woody Stephens seemed like a good spot.”

Mischevious Alex, campaigned in partnership by Cash is King and LC Racing, fired a five-furlong bullet in :59 4/5 (1/70) at Parx June 9.

“He’s training very good coming into the race,” Servis said. “We had some time between races with the coronavirus and I eased off on him a little bit because we didn’t have a schedule.”

‘TDN Rising Star’ Echo Town (Speightstown) could find himself in the garden spot if Mischevious Alex hooks up with the rail-drawn ‘TDN Rising Star’ No Parole (Violence).

Echo Town was a painful second when a head short of Long Weekend (Majesticperfection) in the Bachelor S. at Oaklawn Apr. 25, then refused to lose after dueling throughout in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 25. The 9-5 morning-line favorite makes his first start beyond six furlongs here.

If you forgive No Parole’s eighth-place finish when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in a sloppy renewal of the GII Rebel S., the Louisiana-bred has been ultra-impressive in his four other trips to the post, including a front-running optional claiming tally going six furlongs in Hot Springs last time Apr. 24.

“We think he’s a top sprinter,” trainer Tom Amoss said.

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Woody Stephens Matches Mischevious Alex, No Parole, Asmussen Duo

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Gotham last out on March 7 at the Big A for trainer John Servis, headlines Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Into Mischief bay, bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, arrives at Saturday's seven-furlong test for sophomores on a three-race streak that includes scores in the Parx Juvenile in November and the Grade 3 Swale in February at Gulfstream Park ahead of his Gotham glory.

Servis said he had considered Saturday's nine-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Stakes for Mischevious Alex, who is returning to the top flight off a three-month layoff.

“I'd love to be running in the Belmont,” said Servis. “But I wanted to run him shorter first back off the layoff and then stretch him out after that. The Woody Stephens seemed like a good spot.”

Mischevious Alex worked a half-mile in 51.42 seconds Tuesday morning at Parx Racing in preparation for the Woody Stephens.

“He's training very good coming into the race,” said Servis. “We had some time between races with the coronavirus and I eased off on him a little bit because we didn't have a schedule.”

Undefeated since the addition of blinkers for his Parx Juvenile score, Mischevious Alex boasts a record of 7-4-1-1 with purse earnings of $344,230. Servis said he is looking forward to racing at Belmont Park.

“It's awesome,” said Servis. “Anytime you get to run in a Grade 1, it's exciting and the fact that I'll be able to go up there and saddle him and see him run is even more exciting. I haven't been able to do much of that of late.”

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for the Gotham win, retains the mount from post 3.

Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin's No Parole, trained by Tom Amoss, has won 4-of-5 career starts. The Louisiana-bred Violence bay, a $75,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, posted double-digit wins in his first two career starts in restricted affairs at Fair Grounds romping a six-furlong maiden event in December before sprinting to a 13 ¼-length allowance score in January.

No Parole made it three straight wins with a 6 ½-length score in the restricted one-mile Premier Night Prince in February at Delta Downs ahead of an off-the-board effort in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Rebel in March on a sloppy strip at Oaklawn Park.

Last out, No Parole returned to sprinting with a front-running score in an open optional-claiming sprint on April 14 at the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval.

“This is a horse that showed he's an open company caliber horse last out,” said Amoss. “With limited options these past few months, there have been allowance races popping up with some really good horses at Oaklawn, here at Churchill and at Belmont, so that was a good race out of him last time. We think he's a top sprinter.”

No Parole will emerge from the inside post under Luis Saez.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods' Shoplifted and L and N Racing's Echo Town.

Shoplifted, an $800,000 purchase from the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, graduated on debut in a maiden sprint in July at Saratoga Race Course. The Into Mischief bay next contested a trio of Grade 1 events finishing second in the Runhappy Hopeful on September 2 at Saratoga, fifth in the American Pharoah on September 27 at Santa Anita and seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 1 at Santa Anita.

Shoplifted, off the board in a trio of sophomore starts at Oaklawn Park at distances of one mile or longer, returns to sprinting Saturday.

Echo Town, by Speightstown and out of the Grade 2-winning Menifee mare Letgomyecho, is a half-brother to 2017 Grade 3 Gotham winner J Boys Echo. A $100,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Echo Town has made five starts, all in six-furlong sprints on the main track. He graduated in January at Fair Grounds ahead of a trio of efforts at Oaklawn Park that included an allowance win in March and a runner-up effort in the Bachelor on April 25.

Last out, Echo Town went gate-to-wire on May 25 in an optional-claiming sprint at Churchill Downs.

“Echo Town came in Tuesday in good shape. He's got a lot of weight on him and looks really good,” said assistant trainer Toby Sheets. “Shoplifted has been here and he's been training beautifully. I think he's got a really good shot.”

Jose Ortiz will pilot Shoplifted from post 5 and Ricardo Santana, Jr. will guide Echo Town from post 4.

Colts Neck Stables' Meru has flashed brilliance in just four career starts for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, the Sky Mesa bay graduated on debut in July at Monmouth Park and followed up with a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure, winning the six-furlong Smoke Glacken at the Oceanport, New Jersey oval.

Meru endured a troubled trip in the one-mile Grade 3 Nashua in November at the Big A when pinched at the break and steadied before rallying to finish second behind well-regarded Independence Hall. Last out, in his seasonal debut in a May 25 optional-claiming sprint at Churchill Downs, Meru demonstrated a good late kick to be fourth, defeated less than a length by Woody Stephens-rival Echo Town.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call aboard Meru from post 2.

Carded as Race 2 at 12:25 p.m. Eastern on Saturday's 12-race slate, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm will feature on America's Day at the Races, produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, and airing live on FOX Sports and MSG+. Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the broadcast and can be accessed at www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

 

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Gotham Winner Mischevious Alex To Use Woody Stephens As Springboard To Haskell

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Gotham last out on March 7 at the Big A for trainer John Servis, worked a half-mile in 51.42 Tuesday morning at Parx Racing in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“He two-minute licked and then we let him pick it up the last half. I wanted to let him stretch his legs a little bit,” said Servis.

Servis said he had considered Saturday's Belmont Stakes for Mischevious Alex, but wanted to bring the Into Mischief colt back at a shorter distance. Servis said the Woody Stephens, at seven furlongs for sophomores, would set Mischevious Alex up for a two-turn try in the Grade 1 Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

“I think this race sets him up for the other races,” said Servis. “The Belmont is a one-turn mile and an eighth and the big question for my horse is two turns, so we'll save that for next time.

“If he runs really good on Saturday, we'll probably try the Haskell.”

Mischevious Alex is undefeated since the addition of blinkers for a score in the Parx Juvenile in November. He followed that effort with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park in February ahead of his Grade 3 Gotham coup.

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for the Gotham win, retains the mount.

The probable field for the Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm includes Echo Town (Steve Asmussen), Fore Left (Doug O'Neill), Meru (Jorge Duarte, Jr.), No Parole (Tom Amoss), and Shoplifted (Asmussen).

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