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 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/manhattan12.pdf"> Manhattan Handicap</a>. 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 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/justagame12.pdf">Just a Game Stakes</a> -- 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.
Repole Stable's Caixa Eletronica left himself plenty to do entering the stretch of Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/truenorth12.pdf">True North Handicap </a>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.
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 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/woodystephens12.pdf"> Woody Stephens</a> at Belmont Park.
Staying in the clear with an outside trip in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/honeymoon12.pdf">Honeymoon Handicap</a> 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 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.
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 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/sightseeingfirst.pdf"> 1ST</a> 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.
Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Belmont Stakes. Sponsored by TVG.
Jay Em Ess Stable's Redeemed took the lead soon after the start of Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/brooklyn12.pdf">Brooklyn Handicap</a> at Belmont Park and turned back several challenges en route to a dominating 10-length victory under jockey Ramon Dominguez. The four-year-old son of Include was forced to tote the highweight of 121 pounds following a 9 3/4-length romp in the Milesius Stakes on May 3, but that wasn't enough to stop him from completing 1 1/2 miles on the fast dirt in 2:28 4/5.
Dennis Narlinger's Upgrade overturned defending champion Right One in Friday's Grade 3, $150,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/jaipur12.pdf">Jaipur Stakes</a> at Belmont Park, earning his first career stakes victory. Sent off as the third choice at 5-1, the Michelle Nihei trainee rallied under a well-timed John Velazquez ride, then safely held Right One by three-quarters of a length.
All advance wagers on Saturday's Belmont Stakes involving I'll Have Another are available for cancellation immediately at any Belmont Park mutuel window with a live teller. Once the Belmont Stakes is declared official on Saturday, most tickets that were not canceled in advance will become refundable.
Inquiring minds may want to know what it looks like to ride a winning race aboard a Thoroughbred. More specifically, what does it look like for the jockey to come from well back in the pack and then have to split two rivals in tight quarters before going on and eventually catching the front runner?
Upon learning the news that Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero I'll Have Another was retired with a tendon injury on the eve of the Belmont Stakes, rival trainers expressed their thoughts.
I'll Have Another will not run in Saturday's Belmont Stakes due to a tendon injury.
With nine-furlong misses in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks behind her, Yara will cut back to a six-furlong sprint for Saturday's $75,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/leavemealone12.html"> Leave Me Alone Stakes</a>, her first start since a failed attempt at attaining Oaks glory in Kentucky.
After a 30-hour trek from Australia, Black Caviar's plane landed at London's famed Heathrow Airport Thursday afternoon. The world's top-ranked sprinter sported a custom-made Lycra compression suit to ease the lengthy journey, which included stops along the way in Singapore and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Seeking to create a quieter experience on Friday for Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another, trainer Doug O'Neill sent his charge to the track at 5:30 a.m. (EDT) for a jog and gallop.
I'll Have Another is the most likely winner of the Belmont Stakes, but is he the best bet?
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT STAKES REPORT</font></b></i>
Jockey Rosie Napravnik was cleared to ride by the medical staff at Belmont Park after being unseated at the start of the 7TH race on Thursday, while rider Irad Ortiz Jr. was taken to the hospital complaining of neck and back pain after falling from his mount later in the race. Both horses continued on and appeared unhurt after being caught by outriders.
<i> <b><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT THEY SAID IT</font></b></i>
Owner J. Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez were on hand at Belmont Park Thursday morning as Triple Crown candidate I'll Have Another galloped around the 1 1/2-mile oval, with the only difference in his routine being that he departed the Belmont Stakes barn for the first time.
Thoroughbred owners can go a lifetime without acquiring a horse who can make an impact on the Triple Crown, but such success has come quickly for Donegal Racing, which on Saturday will attempt to win its first classic when the partnership, headed by Jerry Crawford, sends out Dullahan in the Belmont Stakes.
The first Belmont Stakes horse on Belmont Park's main track Thursday morning was My Adonis, who galloped just over a mile after the gates opened at 5:30 (EDT). New Jersey-based trainer Kelly Breen was on hand to watch My Adonis, who was a late confirmation for the race, coming on the evening before Wednesday's entries were drawn.
When Chad Brown worked for late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, the young assistant learned the importance of knowing your horse and its strengths. On Saturday, Brown will attempt to emulate his mentor -- who in 2003 ended Funny Cide's Triple Crown bid by sending out Empire Maker to a victory in the Belmont Stakes -- when he saddles Magnolia Racing Stable and Hidden Brook Farm's Street Life for the "Test of the Champion."
Data Link and Get Stormy last met in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and the duo are scheduled to clash again in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/mthstakes12.html"> Monmouth Stakes</a> when they take on a field that includes two past winners of the 1 1/8-mile turf test.
Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., with a new agent, renewed energy and permanent move back to California, took time Wednesday to reflect on his victory aboard Ruler on Ice in last year's Belmont Stakes.
Churchill Downs will join its fans in celebrating the Triple Crown bid by I'll Have Another, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, on Saturday as the historic home of the Derby offers a special "I'll Have Another" seating deal, Triple Crown-themed drink specials and giveaways, and the opportunity to wager on the simulcast of the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of the Triple Crown, from New York's Belmont Park.
Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan completed his major training preparations for the Grade 1, $400,000 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 16 at Churchill Downs with a bullet five-furlong work in :59 2/5 for trainer Charlie Lopresti on Thursday over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland.
Unraced since easily winning the Grade 2 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship in early October, champion older male Acclamation will make his highly-anticipated 2012 bow in a familiar spot when he seeks his third straight victory in the Grade 1, $250,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/whittingham12">Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap </a>on Saturday. The six-year-old horse will square off against five rivals in the 1 1/4-mile turf affair at Hollywood Park.
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">144TH BELMONT STAKES</font></b></i>
Union Rags, the 6-1 third choice on the morning line behind Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another (4-5) and Dullahan (5-1) for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, arrived at Belmont Park shortly after 11 a.m. (EDT) and was quickly settled into to the stakes barn.
Giant Ryan is currently 2-0-1 from three starts at Belmont Park and on Saturday will seek to improve that mark when starting as the 120-pound highweight in the Grade 2, $400,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/truenorth12.html">True North Handicap</a>. The six-furlong contest will be accompanied on the Belmont Stakes undercard by a pair of stakes restricted to sophomores -- the Grade 2, $400,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/woodystephens12.html"> Woody Stephens Stakes</a> going seven furlongs and the $100,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/easygoer12.html">Easy Goer Stakes</a> at 1 1/16 miles.
A handy winner of the Grade 2 Dixie on May 19, Hudson Steele could continue his ascent into the upper ranks of leading turf runners Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/manhattan12">Manhattan Handicap</a>. The 1 1/4-mile heat will take its usual position on the 13-race Belmont Stakes day program as the race immediately preceding the third leg of the Triple Crown.
<i> <b><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT STAKES DRAW THEY SAID IT</font></b></i>
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT STAKES FEATURE</font></b></i>
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT PARK NOTEBOOK </font> </b></i>
I'll Have Another will have an additional rival in Saturday's 144th running of the Belmont Stakes as he tries to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who will saddle Optimizer in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, was taken to Winthrop University Hospital in nearby Mineola, New York, Tuesday afternoon after one of his horses reared up and struck him on top of his head.
<b><i><font face="Arial" size="4">BELMONT MEDIA LUNCHEON THEY SAID IT</font></i></b>
Following a 23-hour van ride from Calder Race Course in Florida, Ravelo's Boy arrived at Belmont Park shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday and became the first horse to take up residence in the track's designated Belmont Stakes barn.
Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another's move to the Belmont Stakes barn will now take place Wednesday, trainer Doug O'Neill said after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner had another energetic gallop at Belmont Park Tuesday morning.
No horse was traveling faster through the Belmont Park stretch in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May 12 than Street Life. After trailing in the field of 10 through a half-mile in a scorching :45 1/5, Street Life swung to the outside under jockey Jose Lezcano and turned it on to pass most of the field and wind up third, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by winner Mark Valeski.
Who has the breeding to go the Belmont distance?
<i><b><font face="Arial" size="4">HOLLYWOOD PARK NOTEBOOK </font></b></i>
TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated, on Monday, June 4, 2012, credited wagering accounts of players impacted by the New York Racing Association's incorrect takeout rates.
NBC Sports Group's 11 hours of Belmont Week coverage begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) with "I'll Have Another -- Charging Toward History" on NBC Sports Network and culminates with the 144th Belmont Stakes on NBC, Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
