A field of 14 3-year-olds has been entered in the $150,000 Lawrence Realization Handicap (gr. IIIT) Sunday at Belmont Park, with 123-pound highweight Ciro drawing the inside post for the 1 1/2-mile turf race.
In his most recent start, Ciro won the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), defeating King Cugat by one length at Arlington International while equipped with blinkers for the first time. Since then, the son of Woodman has been transferred from trainer Aidan O'Brien to Christophe Clement's barn. In two previous attempts at 1 1/2 miles, Ciro finished third and sixth while finishing over 8 1/2 lengths back in both races.
"I'm not sure whether he can get the distance," said Clement. "The horse has trained great since the Arlington race, but he'll have to overcome the distance. That's the one thing I'm worried about."
Rob's Spirit is next in the weights at 119 pounds and will break from the extreme outside under Jerry Bailey. Rob's Spirit has won four of six career races but has never raced beyond 1 1/4 miles. Rob's Spirit, though, is by Theatrical and out of Winglet -- dam of Ajina, winner of the 1 1/2-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) -- and should be able to handle the trip. When last out, Rob's Spirit won the 1 3/16-mile Saranac Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a neck over Whata Brainstorm, who drew post two for the Lawrence Realization.
Sailing, the lone filly in the race, will be making her North American racing debut. The daughter of Arazi has compiled five wins from 11 starts while racing in England and Italy. The winner of the Premio Mario Incisa (Ity-III) will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
The field, with jockeys and weights, will consist of:
1 -- Ciro, Jose Santos, 123
2 -- Whata Brainstorm, Jorge Chavez, 115
3 -- Painted Pistol, Hector Rosario Jr., 113
4 -- Grand Finale, Pat Smullen, 118
5 -- Cardinal Verse, Mike Luzzi, 113
6 -- Cat's At Home, Richard Migliore, 113
7 -- Sailing, Kent Desormeaux, 114
8 -- Indy Shuffle, Edgar Prado, 112
9 -- Avowed, Robbie Davis, 112
10 -- Wild Over Ian, Masi Ebina, 111
11 -- Dawn of the Condor, Mike Smith, 115
12 -- Polish Miner, Heberto Castillo Jr., 114
13 -- Lodge Hill, Aaron Gryder, 115
14 -- Rob's Spirit, Jerry Bailey, 119
