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Record Handle for Non-Triple Crown Year at Belmont

With a stellar eight Grade I races on the card including the 153rd Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, Belmont Park generated all-sources handle of $112,725,278 Saturday. The amount marks a New York Racing Association (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year, in spite of limited attendance and restrictions on track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 all-sources handle is a greater than 10% increase over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $102,163,280, set in 2019. On-track handle for the 13-race card was $7,532,571.

All-sources handle on the Belmont S. was $60,459,330, with Essential Quality (Tapit) winning the Elmont track's flagship $1.5-million race. Paid attendance was 11,238, with capacity restricted in accordance with New York State guidelines. Last year, the Belmont was run with no spectators and as the opening leg of the Triple Crown with the race distance also abbreviated to nine furlongs instead of its traditional 12 furlongs. It returned to its usual distance this year.

The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 black-type events and 33 races from Thursday to Saturday, generated all-sources handle of $141,984,866.

The Belmont Park spring/summer meet continues through July 11.

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Essential Quality Gives Tapit Fourth Belmont Win

ELMONT, NY – After suffering his first career defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit) ran to his championship form at two and wore down a super game Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) by 1 1/4 lengths to capture Saturday's GI Belmont S. It was a long way back to GI Preakness S. winner Rombauer (Twirling Candy) in third. The Godolphin homebred becomes a record fourth Belmont winner for his all-conquering sire Tapit.

With the late money pouring in on a steamy and sun-splashed afternoon on Long Island with a spaced out and COVID-19 reduced crowd of 11,238 on hand, the 6-5 favorite was a bit further back than expected in a ridden fifth as Hot Rod Charlie and Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) secured a ridiculous early pace through fractions of :22.78 and :46.49 in the 1 1/2-mile Classic.

Luis Saez kept Essential Quality, drawn in post two, in the clear on the outside and under a busy ride. He crept closer down the backstretch and began to rev up four wide entering the far turn. Now three deep and looking every bit the winner, he set his sights on the top two midway around the final bend.

Rock Your World was the first to blink and Essential Quality narrowly hit the front approaching the quarter pole. But Hot Rod Charlie wasn't giving up without a fight. Saez kept Essential Quality's mind on business in the stretch and his class showed up in spades from there, shaking clear late to bring home the white carnations.

This is the first win in the Triple Crown series-at least for now-for last year's Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. The 41-year-old also saddled this year's Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Mandaloun (Into Mischief), who could be elevated to first after a split sample confirmed the prohibited corticosteroid betamethasone in the race's winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) earlier this week. Cox began training for Sheikh Mohammed's global operation just two years ago.

“It was a long way around there for a mile and a half, but it was exciting,” Cox said. “Turning for home, we were pretty much on even terms with the leader. Hot Rod Charlie ran a tremendous race to hang around that late after doing most of the dirty work. Our horse really showed his talent and stamina.”

Cox continued, “With Tapit on top, we really thought he would get the mile and a half when given the opportunity. We always thought he had the ability. After the Derby, you just have to see what it takes out of them. It's a demanding race as well as the Belmont. I really didn't think I could keep his feet on the ground the next couple of months without keeping him on some type of breeze schedule. He's a very smart horse. He has a lot of energy, but he lets you know when he's ready to run.”

Essential Quality put an exclamation point on the day for Godolphin, which also annexed the G1 Epsom Derby with Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and recorded a one-two finish on the Belmont undercard in the GI Longines Just a Game S. with Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Godolphin's Frosted was second in American Pharoah's Triple Crown finale in 2015.

“We were so fortunate to have another opportunity [after the Derby],” Jimmy Bell, President of Godolphin USA, said. “He has never run a bad race in his life, and I think he showed today he met the test of a champion. To do what he did as a 2-year-old and come through these races as a 3-year-old with the mile-and-a-half Classic, it's a great tribute to him.”

Essential Quality kicked off his career with a five-for-five record, led by wins in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Hot Rod Charlie in second and the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. The versatile gray kicked off his sophomore campaign with a visually impressive performance in the slop in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. and punched his ticket to Louisville with a hard-fought decision in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 3. He covered all the ground in the Derby and held his own with a good fourth, beaten only a length.

“This is the race I wanted to win. We made history,” said Saez, famously disqualified from first aboard Maximum Security in the 2019 Derby, after getting his first Classic win. “I'm so proud to be here and come out with a victory. The [2019 Kentucky] Derby was a little [tough], but you know stuff happens so I'm OK.”

He continued, “I had a lot of horse and the good thing about Essential [Quality] is that he always fights. He doesn't care who it is, he's going to want to beat them, so I knew he was going to show up at the top of the stretch.”

Hot Rod Charlie, one slot ahead of Essential Quality by a head in the Derby, lost little in defeat in the Belmont.

“It was such a great stretch duel and he ran against the 2-year-old champ,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “This may sound cocky, but I wasn't that surprised when they went as fast as they did early and he kept fighting on the inside. We just got beat by a better horse today.”

The Belmont returned to its traditional spot on the calendar, and distance, after behind held spectator-free and around a one-turn 1 1/8 miles on the third Saturday in June to kick of last year's Triple Crown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pedigree Notes:

Essential Quality becomes a record fourth Belmont Stakes winner for his leading Gainesway sire following Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016) and Tapwrit (2017). Essential Quality's graded stakes-placed dam Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) is a daughter of the unraced Contrive (Storm Cat). The latter produced champion and 2005 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Folklore (Tiznow). Contrive was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $3 million in foal to Pleasantly Perfect at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Delightful Quality's most recent produce is the 2-year-old filly Famed (Uncle Mo). Barren for 2020-21, she was covered again by Tapit this spring. As a broodmare sire, the late Elusive Quality has 10 Grade/Group 1 winners worldwide. This is also the family of recent Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Saturday, Belmont
BELMONT S. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS-GI, $1,500,000, Belmont, 6-5, 3yo, 1 1/2m, 2:27.11, ft.
1–ESSENTIAL QUALITY, 126, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Delightful Quality (GSP, $253,900), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Contrive, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Jeano, by Fappiano
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez. $800,000.
Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt, 7-6-0-0, $3,215,144. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot Rod Charlie, 126, c, 3, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian
Charlie. ($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck),
Roadrunner Racing and Strauss, William; B-Edward A. Cox (KY);
T-Doug F. O'Neill. $280,000.
3–Rombauer, 126, c, 3, Twirling Candy–Cashmere, by Cowboy
Cal. O/B-John & Diane Fradkin (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy.
$150,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 11 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.30, 4.80, 5.70.
Also Ran: Known Agenda, Bourbonic, Rock Your World, Overtook, France Go de Ina. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Domestic Spending Powers to Manhattan Score

Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB})'s late-charging victory in the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. gave Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables its second Grade I winner–and third winner overall–on the marquee card at Belmont Park Saturday.

Coming off a dead-heat score with Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the May 1 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Derby day, Domestic Spending was made the 3-2 favorite while seeking his third straight win at the top level. The bay gelding dropped well back and raced in the clear as Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Fr}) led the strung-out field through fractions of :23.81 and :46.95. Some 10 lengths back heading into the far turn, Domestic Spending made eye-catching progress turning for home. Fanned six wide at the top of the lane, he closed stoutly, switching leads late to spurt past the pacesetter and power clear. Tribhuvan held on for second, while Gufo (Declaration of War) closed from last to be third.

“We had a good trip,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “He broke well and I got him to relax all the way around there. It was a pretty strong pace. When it was time to make a move, he responded very well. Then, he was floating a little bit down the lane when he was by himself. He ran a good race. He went a mile and a quarter well today. He showed a good turn-of-foot last time and today, with the strong pace it's hard to show the same turn of foot and he did. I think I had more in reserve. He was floating a little bit down the lane, but I felt that I had more horse.”

The win gave trainer Chad Brown his third straight Manhattan victory and Brown has won six of the race's last nine runnings.

“This has been an important race for us,” Brown said. “It is one of the premier turf races for males at a Classic distance in the country and I hold it in high regard. We point for it every year, and I've been so lucky, me and my team, to have some good horses through the years to work with.”

Domestic Spending, a 300,000gns TATOCT yearling, was a debut winner at Tampa Bay Downs last February and, following a Belmont allowance tally in June, suffered the only loss of his career to date with a third-place finish in the July 18 GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame S. He rebounded to get his head in front of Gufo to win the Aug. 15 Saratoga Derby Invitational and was a head to the good of Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) in the Nov. 28 GI Hollywood Derby. He returned from a six-month layoff and closed late to hit the wire in step with Colonel Liam in the Turf Classic.

“[Domestic Spending] has been a particular challenge,” Brown admitted. “We had to geld him after his 2-year-old year, even with that breeding, because he wouldn't train. We had several different people on our team working with this horse, down at Stonestreet [in Kentucky] and down in Ocala. So many people have touched this horse and really worked with him and got his natural ability out of him. The latest is Flavien, who is now getting along just terrific with this horse. It's really my team. They've done an outstanding job developing this horse. There was a point in time when he was a baby that I didn't think we'd ever get him to the races.”

The Klaravich colors were carried to victory earlier on the card by debuting Soft Power (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and by GI Acorn S. winner Search Results (Flatter).

Pedigree Notes:

Domestic Spending is the only foal out of stakes winner Urban Castle, who died in 2017. The mare was a daughter of group winner and multiple Group 1 placed Cloud Castle (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), who also produced group winner Queen's Best (GB) (King's Best) and multiple group placed Reverie Solitaire (Ire) (Nashwan). Domestic Spending's third dam, Lucayan Princess (Ire) (High Line {GB}), produced Group 1 winners Warrsan (Ire) (Caerleon) and Luso (GB) (Salse), as well as multiple group winner and multiple Group 1 placed Needle Gun (Ire) (Sure Blade).

RESORTS WORLD CASINO MANHATTAN S.-GI, $750,000, Belmont, 6-5, 4yo/up, 1 1/4mT, 1:59.08, gd.
1–DOMESTIC SPENDING (GB), 124, g, 4, by Kingman (GB)
                1st Dam: Urban Castle (SW-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Cloud Castle (GB), by In the Wings (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lucayan Princess (Ire), by High Line (GB)
(300,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien
Prat. $400,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-1, $1,314,500. Werk
   Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tribhuvan (Fr), 118, g, 5, Toronado (Ire)–Mahendra (Ger), by
Next Desert (Ire). (€30,000 Wlg '16 ARQDEC; €58,000 RNA Ylg
'17 AROYRG). O-Dubb, Michael, Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder
Stables and Caruso, Michael J.; B-Jean Charles Haimet, Elza &
Hannah Petit (FR); T-Chad C. Brown. $140,000.
3–Gufo, 118, c, 4, Declaration of War–Floy, by Petionville.
O-Otter Bend Stables, LLC; B-John Little & Stephen Cainelli
(KY); T-Christophe Clement. $75,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.50, 15.90, 4.00.
Also Ran: Masteroffoxhounds, Rockemperor (Ire), Master Piece (Chi), Channel Cat, Colonel Liam, City Man, Bye Bye Melvin. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Silver State Proves His Mettle

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State (Hard Spun) upped his win streak to six while providing trainer Steve Asmussen with a third GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. in the last four years. The historic Met Mile also gave Silver State an automatic spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile should his connections choose that event over the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. By My Standards (Goldencents) rallied to cut the winning margin to a length after missing the break, while stretching-out GI Carter H. hero Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) settled for third. Odds-on Knicks Go (Paynter), last year's Dirt Mile romper and last seen checking in fourth in the lucrative Saudi Cup in February, showed the way before fading to fourth on a rare day when Eclipse-winning conditioner Brad Cox's runners seemed to not be firing their best shots–until the GI Belmont S. at least

Silver State was a fringe player on the 2020 Triple Crown trail, finishing second in the GIII Lecomte S. and third in a division of the GII Risen Star S. before a seventh-place run in the GII Louisiana Derby in March. He reemerged a seven-length romper over Keeneland's almost-a-mile Beard Course in allowance company last October, and hasn't looked back since. The bay cleared his '2X' at Churchill in November, followed by narrow scores in Oaklawn's Fifth Season S. Jan. 23 and Essex H. Mar. 13. He most recently got up by a half-length in the nine-furlong GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 17, pairing up his 101 Beyer Speed Figure top.

Let go as the 57-10 third choice, Silver State broke well enough despite pressure from both sides, and tucked in behind Knicks Go as Mischevious Alex rushed up to apply pressure. Shuffled back a bit and ridden along near a :46.31 half, he looked to be going well heading for home as the favorites knocked heads. Knicks Go floated Mischevious Alex very wide, and that gave Silver State a perfect path if he had the horse. He did, and pushed past the fading Knicks Go, outkicked Mischevious Alex and held safe By My Standards by a length.

“He broke really sharp today and put me in a great spot,” said winning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr., who escaped injury Friday at Churchill Downs when his mount broke through the temporary rail and caused the declaration of a no contest. “I was just a passenger today. He put me where he wanted to be. The rail opened, so I decided to go through it and he gave me the victory… Steve's done a good job with him. He gave him time off. He came back fresh last year and he's the best that he's been right now… The good thing about that horse is that he can do whatever you want to. He's really smart. I'm really impressed with him.”

Hall of Famer Asmussen took the 2018 Met Mile with Bee Jersey (Jersey Town) and 2019 renewal with Mitole (Eskendereya)–both were also piloted by his go-to jock Santana.

“I'm very proud of Silver State, the whole team, and the trip Ricardo gave him and the faith he has in the horse,” said Asmussen. “The Met Mile is an extremely significant win and one of the great races in American racing.

“This is six wins in a row for him. He's an absolutely beautiful Stonestreet bred that Ron Winchell and Mr. [Willis] Horton purchased and have campaigned. Their patience in allowing him to get to this level has been perfect.

“Silver State's one-turn races last year were brilliant. Ricardo knows the horse and has a great amount of confidence in him. He was away cleanly and he was traveling very comfortably. Ricardo's level of confidence in this horse, and it's obviously warranted, had a lot to do with the outcome today.

“This horse takes a step forward with every race. The one thing you really noticed at Oaklawn is every time he went to the wire like he was trying to win. He's a Met Mile winner. We built it up to this point. To be in this position today will give him the credit he deserves. That's the great part about racing. You have to earn it. That's what he did today. The Met Mile was our target since last fall.”

Saturday, Belmont Park
HILL 'N' DALE METROPOLITAN H.-GI, $955,000, Belmont, 6-5, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.45, ft.
1–SILVER STATE, 120, c, 4, by Hard Spun
                1st Dam: Supreme (SW-USA, GSP-Can, $162,789),
                                by Empire Maker
                2nd Dam: Mon Belle, by Maria's Mon
                3rd Dam: Regal Band, by Dixieland Band
   1ST GRADE I WIN. ($450,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC;
B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $535,000. Lifetime Record:
11-7-2-1, $1,765,094. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–By My Standards, 122, h, 5, Goldencents–A Jealous Woman,
by Muqtarib. ($150,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Allied Racing
Stable, LLC & Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Don Ladd (KY); T-W. Bret
Calhoun. $185,000.
3–Mischevious Alex, 124, c, 4, Into Mischief–White Pants Night,
by Speightstown. ($75,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $140,000 RNA 2yo
'19 OBSAPR). O-Cash is King LLC and LC Racing; B-WinStar
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $100,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 5.70, 8.90, 3.55.
Also Ran: Knicks Go, Dr Post, Lexitonian.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Silver State is the 14th highest-level winner for good racehorse sire Hard Spun, whose runners perform at a variety of distances and over both surfaces. Among his recent standouts are 2019 Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run. The late Empire Maker is the broodmare sire of 27 graded winners and, for now, six Grade I winners–he is also the dam sire of current GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun (Into Mischief). Among the six are GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and GI Belmont S. also-ran Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}).

The winner's dam Supreme was a two-time sprint winner on dirt, but improved significantly when switched to the sod and was a stakes winner and GSP in dashes over that surface. Stonestreet paid $800,000 for Supreme in foal to Giant's Causeway at the 2013 Keeneland January sale. Supreme is out of a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. Supreme's 2-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) colt was a $95,000 KEESEP RNA turned $500,000 OBS March purchase by Yuji Hasegawa off a :10 flat breeze. Supreme produced an Uncle Mo colt last May but was not bred back.

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