Triple Crown | Horse Racing Free Tips

Japan’s France Go De Ina Settles In For Belmont Stakes Attempt

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina, trained by Hideyuki Mori, visited the Belmont Park main track for the first time on Friday to begin preparations for a start in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

The 62-year-old Mori said the Kentucky-bred France Go de Ina was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont on Monday following his seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Preakness under Joel Rosario.

“It's been 15 years since I've been here. I forgot how big it was,” said Mori with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter. “It looks like he has settled in well and is in very good condition. He looks like he has got all his weight back from after the race and all the travel.”

Bred by Kidder Betz, B & K Canetti and Jim Betz, the Japan-based France Go de Ina was purchased by the conditioner for $100,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owner Yuji Inaida.

In addition to trying to collect a $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes, France Go de Ina will look to provide Mori with his first win in North America with his eighth starter.

Mori traveled Ski Captain to Churchill Downs in 1995 to finish 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in his first venture to North America. The well-respected conditioner has been represented at the last two Breeders' Cup World Championships with Matera Sky [8th, 2019 Sprint], Full Flat [5th, 2019 Juvenile] and Jasper Prince [14th, 2020 Sprint].

France Go de Ina (by Will Take Charge) is a two-time winner at Hanshin Racecourse, including a maiden score on November 28 and an allowance coup on December 19. France Go de Ina entered the Preakness from a sixth in the UAE Derby following a poor start.

Mori said France Go de Ina should improve off the Preakness effort after extensive travel en route to Baltimore for his attempt at the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“He was good at the beginning but he seemed to get a little tired at the end,” said Mori of the Preakness effort. “He went from Dubai to Japan and then Japan to the Preakness and he probably needed the race to be more fit for the Belmont.”

Mori said France Go de Ina is bred to enjoy the stretch out in distance to 12 furlongs.

“He's out of a Curlin mare, so we're hopeful he'll be able to stay the distance,” said Mori. “He will probably have a serious work on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race. He'll canter in the mornings and continue to build stamina.”

Discussions on who will ride France Go de Ina in the Belmont Stakes are ongoing.

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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.

“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.”

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.

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Sadler Hopes Rock Your World Can ‘Right The Ship’ In Belmont Stakes

Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Friday at Santa Anita in his penultimate drill for the 153rd Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half on June 5.

“He went (five furlongs) in a minute and change, out (three-quarters) in (one) 13 and we're very happy,” said John Sadler, trainer of the Candy Ride colt that was unbeaten until the May 1 Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 17th after being eliminated at the start when sandwiched between two horses from post position 15 in a field of 19.

Rock Your World was ridden in today's breeze by exercise rider Geovanni Grant and went in company with Campaign, who was clocked in 1:01.40.

“His schedule calls for him to work one more time a week from today and ship to New York on Memorial Day weekend,” Sadler said of Rock Your World.

“The Kentucky Derby was over at the start for him,” Sadler rightfully reasoned in recounting the Run for the Roses debacle. “Hopefully we have a good chance to right the ship.”

Rock Your World led throughout the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, winning by 4 ¼ lengths in his debut on the main track. His first two triumphs came on turf and was ridden by Umberto Rispoli in all three races, but in the Kentucky Derby, Joel Rosario was aboard and he retains the mount in the Belmont.

Hot Rod Charlie, third in both the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to work at 7:45 a.m. Saturday in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 5.

Santa Anita's runaway riding leader Flavien Prat, who rode Hot Rod Charlie in the Run for the Roses, also piloted Belmont Stakes-bound Rombauer to an upset victory in the Preakness, but remains on Hot Rod Charlie for the third jewel in the Triple Crown, Doug O'Neill said.

“Flavien will breeze 'Chuck' Saturday,” the two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer said. “If all goes well, the horse will work again the following Friday, then leave for New York a week before the race (on Saturday, May 29).”

Michael McCarthy was contemplating his riding options in the Belmont Stakes for Preakness winner Rombauer, since Flavien Prat, who piloted the Twirling Candy colt to an impressive victory in the second jewel of the Triple Crown on May 15, will ride Hot Rod Charlie in the third and final jewel on June 5.

“Rombauer will work one time before the Belmont, but I don't have a day (in mind),” McCarthy said Thursday by phone from New York, where recent clime has been intermittently inclement.

As to a jockey, with Prat committed to Hot Rod Charlie according to O'Neill, McCarthy said, “I don't have a decision, don't know what the situation is, don't know what the status is yet.”

Post position draw for the Belmont is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2.

Stay tuned.

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Pletcher Colts Work for Belmont

Three-time GI Belmont S.-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher sent out a trio of colts to breeze Friday morning at Big Sandy in preparation for this year's running of the final leg of the Triple Crown June 5.

GI Curlin Florida Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby ninth-place finisher Known Agenda (Curlin) breezed in company with GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. contender Dr Post (Quality Road). The duo went in 1:02.54 (8/18). Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Known Agenda, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez on last year's Belmont S. runner-up and recent GIII Westchester S. hero.

“I thought it was a good progressive breeze that should bring them both forward. In particular, I liked the way they galloped out,” said Pletcher. “I had them out in 1:14.4, 1:27.1 and 1:41 for the mile. I thought we accomplished what we were hoping to.”

Known Agenda worked without the blinkers he has sported in his last three races.

“Sometimes he breezes with them, but we're saving them for the race,” Pletcher explained. “Sometimes, you get a little more bang for your buck if you don't overuse them.”

Pletcher's other “Test of the Champion”-bound runners–GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter and Derby 13th Bourbonic (Bernardini); and GIII Peter Pan S. third and million-dollar yearling Overtook (Curlin)–worked in company. They went in :48.82 (3/32).

“They went off a touch quick but finished steadily,” said Pletcher. “I particularly liked the way they galloped out. I had them out seven-eighths in 1:27 4/5. I was pleased.”

Pletcher will mostly likely send Peter Pan winner Promise Keeper (Constitution) to the GIII Ohio Derby June 26, but hasn't completely ruled out the Belmont. The chestnut also breezed Friday, in company with MGISW older grass horse Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), on the Belmont training track (:48.62, 3/36).

“He was in company for a half-mile with Colonel Liam in :48 and change. I thought it was a good work,” said Pletcher. “It seems like he's maintained form since the Peter Pan. Right now we're leaning towards the Ohio Derby but we wanted to keep him in position to keep an eye on the Belmont. He worked well enough this morning that we'll continue to keep an eye on it… It would be interesting to try him a little further. But right now the Ohio Derby seems to make sense.”

Colonel Liam is pointing for the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan on the Belmont undercard. He is seeking his fifth straight, having most recently dead heated for the win in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on Derby Day.

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