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Rail-Drawn We the People Favored for Belmont Stakes; Derby Winner Rich Strike Third Choice

ELMONT, NY — With GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) breaking from post four, a field of eight was drawn Tuesday morning for Saturday's GI Belmont S.

The monumental come-from-behind 80-1 Derby upsetter heads to the final leg of the Triple Crown fresh after skipping the GI Preakness S. He has been installed as the third choice on the morning line at odds of 7-2.

“He's doing really good since he's been here, he's training better every day,” trainer Eric Reed, seated alongside owner Richard Dawson, said at Tuesday's well-attended draw from Belmont's Triple Crown Lounge. “I don't think the pace will be nearly as fast. He's still going to drop back, that's just his style of running. Turning for home, if he's close enough, he'll have a real good shot at it.”

The pace of the race is expected to come from the rail-drawn 'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution), a runaway front-running winner in a sloppy renewal of the local prep GIII Peter Pan S. He was given the 2-1 nod on the morning line.

Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), a rallying fifth in the Derby, was installed as the 5-2 second choice. He will break from post six. Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Nest (Curlin) takes on the boys following a runner-up effort in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

This story will be updated.

From the rail out, the complete field for the GI Belmont S.:

1-We the People (Constitution) (2-1)

2-Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) (20-1)

3-Nest (Curlin) (8-1)

4-Rich Strike (Keen Ice) (7-2)

5-Creative Minister (Creative Cause) (6-1)

6-Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (5-2)

7-Golden Glider (Ghostzapper) (20-1)

8-Barber Road (Race Day) (10-1)

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Broadway Performers Added To Line-Up Of Entertainment For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that cast members from Disney's hit Broadway musical ALADDIN will perform on Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park as part of the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

The ALADDIN performance will feature the Oscar-winning classic “A Whole New World” and the showstopping “Friend Like Me” performed by Jeremy Gaston, Jonah Ho'okano and Katie Terza on the Winner's Circle stage prior to the 154th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets.

The ALADDIN cast joins a blockbuster lineup of entertainers set to perform at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, including DJ Pauly D, one of the world's most in-demand DJs and reality television personalities, as well as the New York Bee Gees, Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti and Black Tie Brass.

With the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets as its centerpiece, the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will take place at beautiful Belmont Park from Thursday, June 9 through Saturday, June 11. Featuring the very best in thoroughbred racing along with world-class entertainment and hospitality options, the Festival has become an exciting way for sports fans to kick off the summer season in New York.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, ALADDIN features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).

Hailed by The New York Times as “fabulous and extravagant!” the Broadway production has broken 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and spawned eight productions on four continents, with a new North American tour launching in October. It can be seen currently on Broadway, in Japan, the Netherlands, Mexico and Germany.

For more information, visit www.AladdintheMusical.com. To download production video and photos, visit www.press.AladdintheMusical.com.

For additional information on the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, visit BelmontStakes.com.

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Shorter Gallop For Rich Strike, But Derby Winner Wanted More To Do

RED TR-Racing's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike shortened up to 1 1/4 miles for his daily exercise on Monday and left the track wanting to do more in his daily gallop for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Rich Strike had his typical morning routine, schooling through Belmont's paddock before walking through the tunnel and onto the fast main track with regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes aboard.

Trainer Eric Reed said he was pleased with the gallop, but knew Rich Strike needed to gallop farther when he had a spirited exit from the main track.

“I didn't gallop him hard enough because he came off the track rearing up,” said Reed, who typically gallops the Keen Ice chestnut 1 1/2 miles or farther. “I'll have to do a little more with him tomorrow. We were trying not to push him too hard, but it's like I always say, he lets you know when he wants to do more.”

The Belmont Stakes will be Rich Strike's first start since he upset the Kentucky Derby at odds of 80-1 with an off-the-pace trip and rail-skimming ride from jockey Sonny Leon, tactics that Reed said could be slightly different in the “Test of the Champion.”

“I'm not too worried about the draw either way. I would probably be fine with an outside post again just to let him get a spot – I think he'll be a lot closer to the pace than anyone imagines,” said Reed. “He's gotten smarter and more aggressive. The pace won't be near what he's used to running in any of his other races. I could be wrong because he'll do whatever he wants, but something tells me he's going to be more aggressive on his own for this race. I think he's changed for the better.

“I think even if he drops back out of the gate, it won't take him as long to get where he needs to be anyway,” Reed added. “I think in the middle of the turn, if he's within four or five lengths, they'll have to deal with him.”

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‘All Systems Go’ As Creative Minister Turns In Easy Half-Mile Breeze Ahead Of Belmont

Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing and Magdalena Racing's Creative Minister had his final work on Monday in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The son of Creative Cause breezed an easy half-mile in 50.33 seconds over the fast main track at Belmont Park.

“It was something simple,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We let him stretch his legs; he had a long gallop and he did everything right. He looked happy doing it.”

Creative Minister was guided through the exercise by Heman Harkie, who was also aboard for his half-mile breeze last week. The grey colt stood near the finish line for a few minutes before the breeze, surveying Big Sandy with his head up and ears forward as Harkie gave his neck a few strokes.

The pair then took off the wrong way around towards the top of the stretch so that Creative Minister could get a sense of Belmont's looming grandstand and long home stretch. Creative Minister was taken to the backstretch to begin his work and NYRA clockers caught his first quarter-mile in 24 and 4/5 seconds. He travelled well to finish the work in 50.33 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 flat.

“He's a very smart horse,” McPeek said. “He hasn't missed a beat and has been eating well. He just needed a maintenance half-mile. All systems go.”

Creative Minister established himself in the 3-year-old division with a rallying third-place effort in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 21, finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Early Voting. He was awarded a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, which was his stakes debut.

McPeek is in search of his second Belmont Stakes triumph and first since Sarava stunned the 2002 running at odds of 70-1, the longest shot in history to win the “Test of the Champion.”

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