After being contested as the opening leg of the Triple Crown last year and run at a mile and an eighth due to the pandemic, the 153rd Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets returns to its customary place on the racing calendar as the last of the spring classics, run at a mile and a half on the first Saturday in June.
Tag: Racing
Pletcher To Saddle Potent One-Two Punch In Brooklyn Invitational
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented with three contenders in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. But the Hall of Fame conditioner will also send out a strong contingent in another 1 1/2-mile graded stakes contest on the day, with Ajaaweed and Moretti forming a potent one-two punch in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health for 4-year-olds and up.
Carded as Race 4 on the 13-race slate, the 134th running of the Brooklyn is part of a sensational card on Saturday at Belmont Park that includes nine graded stakes and eight Grade 1 events, making it the only Grade 2 race on the Breeders' Cup-quality program.
Pletcher, who won last year's Brooklyn edition with Marconi, has a strong chance for repeat success with Shadwell Stable's homebred Ajaaweed, who improved suddenly last out in the Flat Out on April 30 over Big Sandy.
Ajaaweed showed potential when starting his career in former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's barn as a 2-year-old in 2019 before he abruptly fell off the Kentucky Derby Trail in early 2020.
The Curlin colt was given an 11-month respite, returning in January at Gulfstream Park for Pletcher. His first back featured an eighth-place finish, beaten 26 ½ lengths in a one-mile optional claimer, on January 31. His fortunes didn't improve much in his next start at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he was again beaten double-digit lengths on March 14. But everything changed once he was stretched out to 1 3/8 miles in the Flat Out, as he closed strongly in the stretch to nearly overtake Musical Heart before settling for second.
“He gave us that impression he would do well with some added distance,” Pletcher said of Ajaaweed, who earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his Flat Out performance. “He just keeps galloping. He was coming on strong there in the end, he just got up there a little too late. Hopefully, we identified what he really wants to do.”
With Ajaaweed being a potential up-and-comer at marathon distances, the other half of the Pletcher's duo, Moretti, brings much-needed experience to the table for owners Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbreds.
The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro hasn't run since August 2 of last year, when he won the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone at Saratoga Race Course, though his proficiency at longer distances is well-documented. Coincidentally, it was actually in the 2020 edition of the Flat Out that Moretti first showed an affinity for marathons. He won the 1 3/8-mile race by 5 ¼ lengths and followed with a second-place finish in the Grade 2, 1 1/4-mile Suburban before his year came to a premature end in the Birdstone.
“I think this is what he does best,” Pletcher said. “It's a tall order to run a mile and a half off the long layoff. I hope we have him fit enough. I like the way he breezed on Friday; he galloped out nice and strong so hopefully that's got him nice and cranked up.”
Ajaaweed and Moretti will break from posts 7 and 6, respectively, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Irad Ortiz, Jr. set to ride.
The winner of the Flat Out, Musical Heart, will also be back for more in the Brooklyn. A $62,500 claim by trainer Rob Atras and owners Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso on November 13 of last year, Musical Heart had been knocking on the door in stakes company for his new connections until his breakthrough finally came in the Flat Out, which he won in wire-to-wire fashion by three-quarters of a length with a 99 Beyer. The 6-year-old son of Maclean's Music will break from post 5 with Kendrick Carmouche aboard.
The Brooklyn additionally attracted a few out-of-town shippers to spice up an eclectic lineup of older dirt horses. Chief among these runners is the 4-year-old Tizamagician, who hails from California and enters the race off a dominant, nine-length win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City on April 18 at Santa Anita Park.
A Tiznow colt trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, Tizamagician has really come to hand in 2021, with a win in an optional claimer to begin the year and runner-up finish in the Grade 2 San Pasqual to go along with his coming-out party in the 1 ½-mile Tokyo City. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 8.
Joining Tizamagician from the West Coast is veteran marathoner Campaign, who's had a down 2021 thus far but is a two-time graded stakes-winner at the distance and missed by less than a length in this race in 2019. Trained by John Sadler for Woodford Racing, Campaign will break from post 3 with Luis Saez in the irons as he looks to bounce back following a distant fourth-place finish in an optional claimer at Oaklawn Park on April 11.
“He's coming into it well,” Sadler said. “We're adding the blinkers for this race. He's trained well with them on at Santa Anita. Two years ago, he was right there and just got beat, so we're going back. The big wide turns and the distance should suit him.”
Ubiquitous horseman Robertino Diodoro will be represented by Lone Rock, another shipper that appears well meant in this spot. Reminiscent of Musical Heart, Lone Rock was claimed by Diodoro and owner Flying P Stable for $40,000 last fall at Churchill Downs, and the 6-year-old gelding has been terrific in 2021, particularly at 12 furlongs.
Three starts ago, Lone Rock just missed in the 1 1/2-mile Temperence Hill at Oaklawn Park, and he's since rattled off two victories at this distance, including an open-length score last out in the Marathon Overnight on April 27 at Churchill Downs. Lone Rock will again be ridden by Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard for his last two wins, and the duo will depart from the outermost post 9.
Rounding out the field for the Brooklyn are Ry's the Guy and You're to Blame, second and fourth, respectively, last out in the Marathon Overnight, and Rocketry, a salty older marathoner for trainer Jimmy Jerkens who finished third in the Flat Out in his most recent outing.
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Powerhouse Stables Of Appleby, Brown Make Up Half The Field In Just A Game
Twelve stakes winners, including 11 graded/group stakes winners—all seeking their first turf Grade 1 score comprise the dozen entered in Saturday's $500,000 Longines Just a Game over one mile on the Widener turf course.
The powerhouse stables of Charlie Appleby and Chad Brown make up half of those in a race that has traditionally showcased some of the best turf females in training, including eight Breeders' Cup winners.
The powerhouse stables of Charlie Appleby and Chad Brown make up half of those in a race that has traditionally showcased some of the best turf females in training, including eight Breeders' Cup winners.
Trainer Charlie Appleby has sent out a mere 15 starters in North America since becoming a head conditioner for Godolphin in 2013, but has won with five of those and earned more than $2.9 million. A pair of grey 4-year-old fillies with stakes victories during Meydan Racecourse's 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival, Althiqa [post 8, Hall of Famer Mike Smith] and Summer Romance [post 9, Luis Saez], deserve plenty of respect shipping over from England.
Althiqa closed from last to land the one-mile Group 2 Cape Verdi in late January, knocking off her favored stablemate, who tired to fifth after making the running. Summer Romance would make amends three weeks later in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine, running the field off its feet in gate-to-wire fashion. Althiqa checked in third.
While Althiqa is a homebred who has steadily ambled her way up the ranks, it is clear that Summer Romance—an $898,800 daughter of Kingman and half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Rizeena—has been held in slightly higher regard.
“They all travelled over well and have trained well since they've been there,” Appleby said. “There's been a little rain and the track's very wet this weekend. The fillies are fit and well and have plenty of experience under their belt. The reason we went to America is they carry Group 2 penalties here in Europe for the forthcoming season and the Group 1 older fillies races aren't until later in the year, anyway, so we thought it might be a good opportunity to get a Grade 1.”
Chad Brown's quartet is led by Peter Brant's Blowout [post 11, Flavien Prat], a gate-to-wire winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile last out at Churchill Downs. A daughter of Dansili and French classic winner Beauty Parlour, she cured a case of seconditis in the process after completing the exacta in a trio of events, led by a nose loss in the Grade 1 Matriarch in November at Del Mar.
“Flavien really gets along with her well,” Brown said. “We saw that in the Matriarch. He has great hands and she can be difficult, but he really gets along with her and timed it right. She likes this track very much. She ran one of the best races I've ever had a horse run in defeat that day [in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel, September 26], when she got away from Johnny [Velazquez] and went 44 [seconds for the half-mile] and kept going. I don't know how she was still there at the end. If she can settle at all, she has a good closing kick. She has run well on good ground in the past, but I prefer for it to be firm.”
Brant also entered Regal Glory [post 4, Hall of Famer Javier Castellano], fourth in this last year and cross-entered in Thursday's Grade 3 Intercontinental.
Brown's Grade 2 Sands Point-winner Tamahere [post 10, Jose Ortiz] kicked off her season with a respectable second in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on April 10. Owned by Swift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables, the daughter of in-form stallion Wootton Bassett appears primed for a top effort.
“This filly would be no shock to win this race, either,” Brown said. “She's going to really appreciate the cut back to a mile and she loves Belmont. She's been training very well and is a legitimate contender here.”
The fourth for Brown is Juddmonte's Pocket Square [post 6, Irad Ortiz Jr.], who seeks to build off a strong American debut, winning by open lengths at Keeneland on April 7. By smart young stallion Night of Thunder, the chestnut 4-year-old makes her sixth start and owns a stakes win in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville in 2019.
“She's a pretty good horse and reminds me of some other talented horses I've had,” Brown said. “We did this with Antonoe, going from an allowance at Keeneland to the Just a Game, which she won. She's pretty good and we're lucky to have her. I think she's lined up for a good one.
“Interestingly, she shipped over last year to run in the Saratoga Oaks and she had an issue out of quarantine where she needed some time off,” Brown continued. “Fortunately, the team at Juddmonte did a fantastic job and sent her back to us this winter all healed up and healthy. We did our normal move, like (Bobby) Frankel would have done, which is take our time, find an allowance at Keeneland and then go from there. As impressive as she was in that race, she's come out of it and even taken it up another notch in her workouts. She's been exceptional.”
The three who finished directly astern Blowout in the Distaff Turf Mile—R Unicorn Stable's New York Girl [post 12, Junior Alvarado], Heider Family Stables' Zofelle [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione] and Apogee Racing's Abscond [post 7, Joel Rosario]—will hope to extinguish said rival this time around.
Joseph Imbesi's Sweet Bye and Bye [post 2, Jose Lezcano]—second in the Grade 3 Marshua's River in January to Zofelle—is cross-entered in Thursday's Intercontinental, while Repole Stable's Always Shopping [post 5, Hall of Famer John Velazquez] is cross-entered in Friday's Grade 2 New York.
Jim and Susan Hill's multiple Grade 1-placed Daddy Is a Legend [post 3, Manny Franco], who owns the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field [102], looks to improve upon her third-place finish in this event in 2019.
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from Thursday through Saturday, June 5, culminating with 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. First post on Belmont Stakes Day is 11:35 a.m. Eastern
The Just a Game is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's 13-race card.
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Jackie’s Warrior Faces Drain The Clock In Woody Stephens
Undefeated one-turn titans Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock will square off in Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.
The historic seven-furlong sprint for sophomores is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer, whose biggest claim to fame was capturing an unprecedented five straight wins in the Belmont Stakes with Conquistador Cielo [1982], Caveat [1983], Swale [1984], Crème Fraiche [1985] and Danzig Connection [1986].
Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Drain the Clock arrives at his first Grade 1 test off an effortless triumph in the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 3 at Aqueduct, where he crossed the wire in hand under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
“He'll have to run his career best, but we feel like he's sitting on his career best,” Joseph, Jr. said.
Two open-length victories at Gulfstream Park, when taking the six-furlong Limehouse on January 2 and the Grade 3 Swale at seven furlongs four weeks later, prompted Joseph, Jr. to try a two turn Kentucky Derby-qualifier with the son of Maclean's Music in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, where he finished a good second to Greatest Honour.
“I feel he's a better one-turn horse. Can he win two turns? Yes, against the right company,” Joseph, Jr. said. “But for him to achieve his full potential, one turn is his best distance. He's unbeaten at one turn. It's coming up a small field, but I think any one of them could win it. He'll have to run his best, but he's won most of his one-turn races quite handily and we never really let him out fully.”
Although Drain the Clock has displayed brilliance when commanding from start to finish, he has also won from just off the pace, exhibiting tactical speed in his Limehouse and Swale victories.
“He doesn't need to have the lead,” Joseph Jr. said. “He can sit handy. He sat second in the Swale. I wouldn't want him too far off of it, but he doesn't need the lead.”
Drain the Clock is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables and Michael Nentwig. He breaks from post 2 under Ortiz, Jr.
J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior boasts an unbeaten 5-for-5 record around one turn and returns to Belmont, where he ran a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade 1 Champagne going a one-turn mile in October.
Having won five of seven lifetime starts, Jackie's Warrior boasts earnings of $868,964 – the highest bankroll in the field.
Also a son of Maclean's Music, Jackie's Warrior was fourth as the beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keenland before running a distant third in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in February. He made a triumphant return to one turn against a contentious field in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.
Jackie's Warrior will attempt to give Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen his fourth Woody Stephens win, having previously sent out Posse [2003], J Be K [2008] and Justin Phillip [2011].
Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode Jackie's Warrior in six of his seven lifetime starts, also attempts a fourth Woody Stephens victory from post 3.
Trainer Brad Cox cuts Caddo River back in distance off three starts on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Owned by John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, Caddo River never relinquished when commanding the pace in both of his lifetime wins. Following a superb third-out maiden victory by 9 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs, the son of Hard Spun parlayed such ways into stakes company when conquering the Smarty Jones by 10 ¼ lengths.
Following a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 13, Caddo River ran a much improved second to Super Stock in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in his most recent effort.
“We're hopeful that the cutback is the play here from the mile and an eighth,” Cox said. “He's been freshened a little bit. He's been working steady over the past month and hopefully, with a good trip, he can have a breakthrough performance and maybe pick off a Grade 1. I think the shortening up will be good for him.”
Cox expressed no regrets at taking a crack at the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
“It's nothing but a positive. He made it through it,” Cox said. “We just felt like it wasn't going to set up for us in the Kentucky Derby and he's not a horse who really wanted a mile and a quarter, so we're hoping that backing up to seven-eighths will be a positive for him.”
A Kentucky homebred, Caddo River is out of the stakes-winning Congrats mare Pangburn.
Jockey Florent Geroux will ride from post 6.
Invading from California is Dream Shake, who has placed in all three of his starts at graded stakes level for trainer Peter Eurton.
After an in-hand first out victory on February 7 at Santa Anita, the son of Twirling Candy finished a distant third to Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 6 at the Arcadia oval. Following another third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind Grade 1 Belmont Stakes aspirant Rock Your World and Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, Dream Shake cut back to one turn for the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs. He tracked right off Jackie's Warrior throughout the backstretch run, maintaining position in the stretch drive but was kept at bay finishing a head shy of victory.
Dream Shake is owned by Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, Stonestreet Stables and Richard Hausman.
Leaving from post 4, Dream Shake will be piloted by Flavien Prat.
Michael Shanley's homebred Nova Rags seeks a breakthrough win for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
The son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags has acquired graded stakes black type when finishing second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park.
Two starts after a successful debut in October when travelling six furlongs at Belmont Park, Nova Rags made his lone start at seven furlongs when capturing the Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs.
Jockey Junior Alvarado rides from post 1.
Completing the field is David Ingordo's Tulane Tryst who will try and let the good times roll into his graded stakes debut. The son of leading sire Into Mischief broke his maiden going six furlongs on March 20 at Fair Grounds, defeating next-out winners Mr Sippi and Koolhaus. He arrives off a runner-up finish against winners on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Breaking from post 5, Tulane Tryst will be ridden by jockey Luis Saez.
The Woody Stephens will be carded as Race 3 on Saturday's 11-race program. First post is 11:35 a.m.
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