Miner's Escape wins the 2009 Frederico Tesio.
Photo: Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Commentator, the 8-year-old who Aug. 8 will attempt to become only the third horse in history to win the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) three times, turned in another excellent work Aug. 1 at Saratoga, covering a half-mile in :47.85, handily.
Organized horse racing in West Virginia dates back at least 223 years, but no horse who has won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) has ever competed in the Mountaineer State before. That status is going to change on Aug. 1, when Mine That Bird goes to the post in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird obviously loves New York. He loves it so much that he could return this summer to run at Saratoga Race Course in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Jason, Tom, and the Wizard preview the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Watch Video
When considering company that you'd be honored to be associated with, Penny Chenery would make a fine start. Owner Robert LaPenta has two chances to join Chenery and her Meadow Stable as the most recent back-to-back winners of the Triple Crown's third jewel.
Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Belmont contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter and Avalyn Hunter. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
The two key figures in the pace scenario for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are Miner's Escape and Charitable Man. The former will be a longshot in the field of 10, while Charitable Man was made the 3-1 second choice behind Mine That Bird. So, let's see how this may play out.
Mine That Bird will face nine rivals in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Jockey Calvin Borel will look to become the first jockey to win all three Triple Crown races on two different horses.
With the recent spell of wet weather having finally moved on, three contenders for the 141st running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) turned in their final serious moves this morning at Belmont Park in preparation for the June 6 race.
Continued wet weather in the New York metropolitan area has left the final serious works of several contenders for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) up in the air.
Robert V. LaPenta's Brave Victory and Miner's Escape breezed a half-mile in company on the main track at Belmont Park May 21 as they prepped for a start in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 6.
| Trainer | Nicholas P. Zito |
|---|---|
| Jockey | John R. Velazquez |
| Owner | LaPenta, Robert, V. |
| Breeder | Paul Carroll |
| Miner's Escape View Five-Cross Pedigree | Mineshaft | A.P. Indy |
| Prospectors Delite | ||
| Spy Novel | Broad Brush | |
| Soviet Sojourn |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEESEP2007 Hip 199 |
Yearling | Paramount Sales, agent | ($225,000) | |
| KEEAPR2008 Hip 64 |
Two-year-old | Scanlon Training Center, agent | ($325,000) | |
| KEENOV2010 Hip 4123 |
Racing or stallion prospect | Lucky Shamrock Partners | Lane's End, agent | $40,000 |
Prices in parentheses indicate a horse did not sell because it did not meet its reserve price.
| California Chrome |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Upstart |
| Bodemeister |
| Texas Red |
| International Star |
| Far Right |
| Main Sequence |
| Buddy's Saint |
| Calculator |
