Dixie Handicap winner Hap is choice to win Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Hap figures to be the solid favorite in the $200,000 Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Belmont Park. Hap, who is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott and owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, suffered his first defeat of the year at the hands of Silvano in the Arlington Million (gr. IT). Silvano then ran second to With Anticipation in the Man 'o War (gr. IT).Challenging Hap will be Forbidden Apple, winner of the grade I Manhattan on Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day. Forbidden Apple will be making his second start since that score. He won this race last year over a soft turf course and could be the lone speed Saturday. The field for $200,000 Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap includes: Man From Wicklow (Noberto Arroyo Jr., 113); Union One (Richard Migliore, 114); Forbidden Apple (Corey Nakatani, 119); Hap (Jerry Bailey, 123); Dr. Kashnikow (Gary Stevens, 116); Sarafan (Victor Espinoza, 114); Sumitas (Edgar Prado, 114); and Bonapartiste (John Velazquez, 115).
