A 'Sharp Performance' at Belmont; Trainer Suspended

Sharp Performance took the lead with a mile to go in Belmont's 1 1/2 -mile Lawrence Realization Saturday and held it the rest of the way to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Tiger Trap was second, two lengths in front of Whitmore's Conn.

Sharp Performance covered 12 furlongs in 2:27 to take the 108th running of the $150,000, grade III test for 3-year-olds.

Sharp Performance earned $90,000 for his fourth victory in six career starts, and returned $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Tiger Trap paid $2.60 and $2.10 and Whitmore's Conn was $2.10.

A 3-year-old son of Kris S. produced from the Theatrical mare Theatre Flight, Sharp Performance was bred in Kentucky by Twin Hopes Farm Inc.

Previous to the Lawrence Realization, Sharp Performance was third in Startac's Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) and in his start prior to that had won the Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Trained by David Donk, Sharp Performance races for William Bloom, John T. Behrendt, and Charles K. Marquis.

Meanwhile, trainer Frank LaBoccetta Jr. was suspended for 15 days by track stewards after a banned substance, Clenbuterol, was found in the postrace urine test of Electra Q Shun at Belmont Park on Sept. 9. LaBoccetta was also fined $2,000.

(Chart, Equibase)