Chadds Ford Stable's Union Rags encountered trouble in both the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, but a jockey switch to John Velazquez and better trip on Saturday saw the Dixie Union colt capture the $1 million Belmont Stakes by a head for trainer Michael Matz. The bay sophomore was sent off the 5-2 second choice in the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" and stopped the clock in 2:30 2/5 to earn just his second win of the year.
Acclamation, last year's champion older male, looked as classy as ever when returning from an eight-month layoff Saturday at Hollywood Park, posting a one-length decision in the Grade 1, $250,000 Charles Whittingham. The six-year-old horse has now captured the last three editions of 1 1/4-mile turf test and he stretched his current win streak to six, leading wire to wire under Pat Valenzuela.
BELMONT STAKES THEY SAID IT
Lenny Shulman recaps the exciting 2012 Belmont Stakes won by Union Rags. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video
Lenny Shulman recaps the exciting 2012 Belmont Stakes won by Union Rags. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm.
Fort Loudon drew closer to a half-million in earnings while continuing his winning ways Saturday in the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes on Calder's Summit Preview Day. The Awesome of Course gelding took command of the six-furlong, fast-track contest at the quarter-pole and drew off under urging from jockey Fernando Jara to post a 3 3/4-length victory as the 3-5 favorite.
A crowd of 85,811 wagered $13,777,920 on Belmont Stakes Day races Saturday, the second largest Belmont Stakes Day on-track handle ever, trailing only the $14,461,402 wagered in 2004 when Birdstone broke the Triple Crown bid of Smarty Jones.
Trainer Michael Matz and Jockey John Velazquez answer questions after Union Rags' victory in the 2012 Belmont Stakes. Watch Video
Before Saturday's 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the 31st horse to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will have a ceremonial retirement in the Belmont Park winner's circle.
Trainer Chad Brown continues to stake his claim as heir apparent to the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Already successful with ex-Europeans in the filly and mare turf division, Brown notched his first Grade 1 win with a male courtesy of the British-bred Desert Blanc in Saturday's $500,000 Manhattan Handicap. An encouraging second in his U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy on May 5, the 6-1 shot quickened smartly between foes, then just saw off the bold challenge of Papaw Bodie to post a career-best.
Frank L. Jones Jr.'s homebred Tapitsfly figured out a way to hand Winter Memories her first defeat on the Belmont Park turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game Stakes -- sprint to the early lead and never look back. Spurting away at the top of the stretch, the Dale Romans trainee sizzled her final quarter in :22 4/5, far too fast for the late-running even-money favorite to make a dent on her. Tapitsfly held a comfortable 2 1/4-length margin at the wire while finishing the mile on the firm Widener turf in a stakes-record 1:32 1/5.
Trainer Michael Matz and Jockey John Velazquez answer questions after Union Rags' victory in the 2012 Belmont Stakes.
Repole Stable's Caixa Eletronica left himself plenty to do entering the stretch of Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 True North Handicap at Belmont Park, but the seven-year-old flew home to nab top honors, powering past runner-up Justin Phillip in the final yards. The six-furlong event was marred by the breakdown of Grade 1 winner Giant Ryan, who was vanned off and returned to his stall.
Acclamation, last year's champion old horse, made his long-awaited return to action with a front-running victory in the $250,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) at Betfair Hollywood Park June 9.
A photo gallery of a typical morning with Belmont Stakes contender Union Rags. read blog
Union Rags, closing with urgency along the rail under John Velazquez, got up in the final couple of strides to win a heart-pounding finish over Paynter in the 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.
Making his second start in the U.S., Desert Blanc won a stretch duel with Papaw Bodie to win the Woodford Reserve Manhattan (gr. IT), the turf marathon on the June 9 Belmont Stakes card.
About 1 1/2 hours after watching their Grade 1 winner Giant Ryan vanned off the track with life-threatening injuries in the Grade 2 True North Handicap, owner Shivananda Parboo and trainer Bisnath Parboo watched with joy as their three-year-old sprint star Trinniberg went gate-to-wire in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park.
The son of Teuflesberg wired a 10-horse field in the grade II Woody Stephens Stakes.
Staying in the clear with an outside trip in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park, My Gi Gi got the jump on 1-2 favorite Lady of Shamrock in the stretch of the nine-furlong grass test and narrowly staved off the late charge of the odds-on choice to win by a nose under Rafael Bejarano. The 3-1 second choice in a field of five sophomore fillies, My Gi Gi returned $8.40, $2.80 and $2.20.
Due to a drop in wagering handle from all sources, Betfair Hollywood Park announced June 9 that it is reducing purses beginning June 14.
Due to unanticipated declines in field size and, subsequently, all-sources handle, Hollywood Park announced Saturday reductions in purses will begin Thursday. Entries for those races will take place Sunday.
The 5-year-old Tapit mare holds off even-money favorite Winter Memories.
Caixa Eletronica took advantage of a blistering early pace to rally in the stretch for a three-quarters of a length victory in the True North Handicap (gr. II) on the Belmont Stakes card June 8.
My Gi Gi grabbed the lead in the final strides and held off the overwhelming favorite Lady of Shamrock by a nose for her first stakes victory in the $150,00 Honeymoon Handicap (gr. IIT) June 9 on the turf at Hollywood Park.
Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who was to ride I'll Have Another in Saturday's 144th running of the Belmont Stakes, spoke up about his mount being scratched and retired the day before the race.
Maggi Moss' So Many Ways drew off in her debut in Saturday's 1ST race at Parx, becoming the first winner sired by Grade 2 hero Sightseeing. The Tony Dutrow filly grabbed the early lead, withstood stiff pace pressure, and kicked clear by a commanding eight lengths. With Frankie Pennington in the saddle, the 2-1 chance covered 4 1/2 fast-track furlongs in :52 2/5.
Grade 1-winning millionaire Circular Quay registered his first winner as a freshman sire Saturday when Jewel in the Sky wired the 2ND race at Calder.
The New York Racing Association announced early June 9 that plans to have now-retired top 3-year-old I'll Have Another lead the post parade for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) were being canceled.
Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Belmont Stakes. Sponsored by TVG. Watch Video
We won't even begin to express our disappointment and disgust over the scratch of I'll Have Another. All we will do for now is kill the paragraphs already written and leave the leftovers. This is what is left of the Belmont. Read Blog
With a little more than $39,000 wagered in advance in the win pool on the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Union Rags was a slight favorite over Dullahan early June 9.
Multiple grade I winner Richard's Kid was victorious in his first start in the United States in more than 20 months, romping by 7 1/4 lengths at Betfair Hollywood Park in the $71,650 Prove It Stakes on the night of June 8.
As research has advanced our understanding of equine nutrition, we now know more about how best to meet our horse's nutritional needs. One feed option that owners may notice on the shelves of their local feed store is a ration balancer. This pelleted feed option might have a place in your horse's diet, so let's explain how it is used.
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