Impressive speedster Bordonaro appears to head a field of mostly older sprinters in the June 9 True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park. The six-furlong dirt contest for 3-year-olds and up carries a $200,000 purse.
Tenacious upon getting the lead, Bordonaro, a 6-year-old son of Memo, last won the April 13 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park for the second straight year off a similar freshening.
Bordonaro is owned by Fred Carrillo and Daniel Cassella, who bred the chestnut gelding in California. With earnings of $876,794 under his girth, the William Spawr trainee will be making his first start at the New York track under jockey Richard Migliore. Bordonaro will tote high weight of 122 pounds.
Bordonaro's career record of 10-1-1 from 15 starts includes other scores in the 2006 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. I) and Sunshine Millions Padua Stables Sprint Stakes, plus the 2005 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III).
On the heels of Bordonaro's success is 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter Keyed Entry, who boasts two graded wins and a track record at Gulfstream Park.
A Todd Pletcher trainee, Keyed Entry will be making only his third start of the year, but his recent work tab is sharp enough for him to be considered. Owned by Starlight Stable, Paul Saylor, and Donald Lucarelli, the 4-year-old son of Honour and Glory most recently took this year's Deputy Minister Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park by an easy five lengths. He will be ridden by John Velazquez in the True North.
Looking for their second graded wins after long dry spells are John Petrini's 5-year-old New Jersey-bred homebred Joey P. and Dashboard Drummer, owned by Michael Dubb, Sanford Goldfarb, and several other partners.
Joey P. previously took the 2005 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III), while Dashboard Drummer won the 2003 Sapling Stakes (gr. III). Both races were contested at Monmouth Park.
Sir Five Star, a multiple stakes winner in 2006, had a superior workout at Keeneland six days ago, but lacks previous experience over the Belmont Park course. Owned by H.G. King, he also faces the challenge of being the only 3-year-old on the field.
Rounding out the field are Council Member, a stakes winner in England; Suave Jazz, a consistent East coast sprinter and a stablemate to Dashboard Drummer; and 2007 graded stakes-placed Will He Shine.
True North Handicap (gr. II), $200,000, Belmont Park, June 9, 3-year-olds and up, six furlongs, approx. post 3:08 p.m. EDT
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey,
1. Council Member, 116, Garrett K. Gomez
2. Dashboard Drummer, 114, Cornelio H. Velasquez
3. Keyed Entry, 116, John R. Velazquez
4. Will He Shine, 116, Edgar S. Prado
5. Bordonaro, 122, Richard Migliore
6. Sir Five Star, 110, Michael J. Luzzi
7. Suave Jazz, 114, Ramon A. Dominguez
8. Joey P., 116, Joe Bravo