Nine Possible for Belmont Stakes

Nine Possible for Belmont Stakes
The field for the 137th Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 11 is slowly taking shape, with at least nine 3-year-olds pointing for the third leg of the Triple Crown. The 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" will be headed by Preakness (gr. I) winner Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo. Afleet Alex was originally scheduled to van to Belmont Park last Saturday following his morning jog. But with a suspected case of strangles being investigated there, trainer Tim Ritchey decided to play it safe and keep the son of Northern Afleet at Pimlico, and work him on Wednesday. He will then decide when to ship to Belmont, depending on whether or not the strangles situation is under control. A case of strangles has also been confirmed at Delaware Park where Preakness runner-up Scrappy T is stabled. Horses stabled at Delaware Park are temporarily restricted from New York Racing Association premises, and if there no other additional cases outside the quarantined barn, horses from Delaware will have to provide a negative culture for strangles from a nasopharyngeal wash or swab taken on or after June 6. Out in California, Giacomo breezed seven furlongs in 1:27 at Hollywood Park May 30, and trainer John Shirreffs indicated they are leaning toward heading back east for the Belmont Stakes. If last Saturday's Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) produces a Belmont starter it likely will not be the runaway winner, Oratory, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable. The colt's connections feel the Belmont comes too close to the Peter Pan, in which Oratory earned a lofty 114 Beyer Speed figure. The two Belmont possibles coming out of the Peter Pan are runner-up Reverberate and the beaten favorite Chekhov, who made a good run on the turn only to flatten out in the stretch. But the $3.3 million Pulpit colt had trouble leaving the gate and put in a strong move, having only a maiden victory to his credit. Reverberate pushed the winner most of the way, and although he was no match for him down the stretch, he did finish well clear of the third horse. Also pointing for the Belmont are the Nick Zito pair of Andromeda's Hero, eighth in the Kentucky Derby, and Pinpoint, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard. Lone Star Derby (gr. III) winner Southern Africa is considered a definite, and Wayne Lukas may run his recent maiden winner A.P. Arrow. Santa Anita Derby (gr. ) winner Buzzards Bay had been considered a definite starter, but trainer Jeff Mullins said, following the colt's :57 2/5 work, that they were passing the race.

Peter Pan Stakes has produced five Belmont winners

Chekhov has a chance to run his way into the Belmont Stakes in two weeks. All that's needed is a solid effort by the $3.3 million colt in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. Coming off his first career victory, Chekhov is the likely favorite in a field of eight 3-year-olds for the 1 1/8-mile race. "He is putting everything together now," trainer Patrick Biancone said. "His maiden win was really good and I was quite impressed with him. Now, it's time to test him." Owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith paid $3.3 million for the son of Pulpit at the Keeneland 2-year-olds in training sale, but Chekhov lost his first three starts, developed quarter cracks and needed three months to recover. But after his 8 ¼-length win at Belmont on May 8, Chekhov could be ready to join the Triple Crown fray and challenge Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and Preakness winner Afleet Alex in the 1 ½-mile Belmont on June 11. The Peter Pan has produced five Belmont winners, beginning with Coastal in 1979. The others were Danzig Connection in 1986, A.P. Indy in 1992, Colonial Affair in 1993 and Lemon Drop Kid in 1999. Reverberate is another Belmont hopeful. The chestnut colt trained by Sal Russo comes into the Peter Pan off a 2 ½-length victory in an allowance race, and is 2-for-2 at Belmont. "He's fresh, talented and improving," Russo said. "I think he's got a big future. I think he belongs with these." Jose Santos will be aboard Reverberate, a son of 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Thunder Gulch. Gary Stevens has the call on Chekhov. Also entered are Robador, Sir Greeley, Mr Sword, Golden Man, Gorbash and Oratory. Chekhov began his career with a second-place finish at Keeneland last October and then finished third in his next start, at Santa Anita. Moving into stakes company for the first time, Chekhov was fifth in the Sham Stakes, but just 2 ¾ lengths behind the winner, Going Wild. Giacomo was third in the race. "He's a very good horse and we've been very high on him since the beginning," Biancone said. "I think the Sham was the best performance of his career. He was a maiden running in a stakes race that had the Kentucky Derby winner in it." Like Chekhov, Oratory is a son of Pulpit but a less expensive one. Darley Stud bought him for $100,000 as a yearling. The colt has two wins and two seconds in four career starts — all this year. "He's really matured over the last few months, and I think the time is right to test him against horses like these," trainer Tom Albertrani said.BELMONT NOTES: Horse of the Year Ghostzapper is set for his 2005 debut in Monday's $750,000 Metropolitan Mile. Ghostzapper, trained by Bobby Frankel, won all four of his starts last year, including the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30 in his last start. ... Medallist, a winner of three stakes races and runner-up in the Carter Handicap last month, is out of the Met Mile with a cracked bone in his left front leg. ... On the Belmont front, Preakness runner-up Scrappy T, who veered into Afleet Alex and nearly knocked the winner off his feet at the top of the stretch, is a likely starter, owner Marshall Dowell says. ... Afleet Alex took to the Pimlico track for a third straight morning Friday, jogging two miles early and 1 ½ miles a few hours later. "Most horses would benefit from the same type of program, but unfortunately you can't do it with them," trainer Tim Ritchey said of the two-a-day workouts. "You have to have this kind of athlete."

Oratory wins Peter Pan in stakes-record time

Oratory wins Peter Pan in stakes-record time

Oratory turned in a sharp performance as he seized control out of the turn and glided to a win in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, finishing the 1 1/8-mile test for three-year-olds in a stakes-record time of 1:46.35.
Jockey Jerry Bailey rated the son of Pulpit close to early leader Reverberate and had Oratory well in hand throughout the early stages. When the Tom Albertrani-trained colt came around two wide on the turn, Bailey found another gear. Oratory responded by pulling away to a 4 3/4-length victory over a fast track for his first career stakes win.
Reverberate held on for second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of Golden Man. The beaten favorite Chekhov, hoping for a good showing in preparation for the Belmont Stakes (G1), came in a disappointing fourth, well behind the leader.
"He finished very, very well," said Bailey. "I didn't intend to be on the lead, they just gave it to me. I watched all of his races, and he looked like a horse who hit his best stride in the last quarter of a mile. So, I figured, whatever they gave to me easiest was lengths I didn't have to make up at the end. He was impressive today."
"Right from the beginning, he put himself in the race—which is unusual," Albertrani said. "He always likes to be a few lengths behind the leader. He never shows that much interest early on. He always has that late acceleration. He just accelerated away from them in the stretch."
Albertani said he intends to consult with Oratory's owners before committing to the Belmont Stakes.
With the Peter Pan victory, Darley Stable's Oratory, out of the Dehere mare Arrested Dreams, has improved to three wins in five starts and earnings of $189,000. He was bred by Louie Roussel III.

Alex's Scheduled Arrival at Belmont Delayed

A suspected case of strangles will prevent Preakness (gr. I) winner Afleet Alex, the leader of the 3-year-old division and likely favorite for the 137th Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 11, from arriving at Belmont Park on Saturday as was previously scheduled. The suspected but unconfirmed case of strangles forced the quarantine of barn 60 at Belmont Park May 27 and the isolation of the filly, Lady Libby. Results of the tests, sent by overnight mail to the University of Illinois and to a local lab over the holiday weekend, will not be available until early next week. Afleet Alex, owned by Cash is King Stable LLC, was slated to work at Belmont Tuesday morning. Instead, he will work at Pimlico, weather permitting. "He might go six furlongs, but I'm not really sure of the distance yet," said trainer Tim Ritchey, who turned 54 Friday. "Mike Lakow (NYRA racing secretary) called me right away about the suspected strangles case, (for) which I am very appreciative. I can't take a shot shipping into New York right now with this horse and expose him to something. I talked to the people at Pimlico, and we'll stay here at least until Tuesday. By that time, NYRA will hopefully know what they are dealing with and have control of the situation." The Tuesday breeze will be Afleet Alex's first workout since his memorable Preakness victory May 21 when he overcame a heel-clipping incident at the top of the stretch to win the second leg of the Triple Crown by 4 ¾ lengths over Scrappy T. He has been jogging since Wednesday.

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Scrappy T will likely make his next start in the $1-million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) rather than the inaugural $500,0

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Scrappy T will likely make his next start in the $1-million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) rather than the inaugural $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup, for which he is also under consideration. Scrappy T's owner, Marshall Dowell, said Thursday the gelding is likely to pass on the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs, located in New Kent, Virginia about 20 minutes from Dowell's Mechanicsville home. Dowell believed immediately after the Preakness that the Colonial Turf Cup would be the next start for the son of Fit to Fight, but wanted to talk further with his trainer, Robbie Bailes. Scrappy T is one of 67 horses nominated to the Colonial Turf Cup June 25 and the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. III) July 16 that comprise the first two legs of the $5 million "Grand Slam of Grass", a new turf bonus series. "All indications are that Scrappy T is heading to the Belmont," Dowell said Thursday afternoon. Scrappy T's entry in the Belmont would create a rematch of the top three finishers of the Preakness and in all likelihood scrap both stake outings on the Colonial Downs turf. The Belmont would be Scrappy T's third start in nine weeks. Over Preakness weekend both Dowell and Bailes had said they looked forward to running Scrappy at Colonial. "If it weren't for Colonial Downs, this would be an easy decision to make," said Bailes, a Virginia native, earlier this week. Bailes and Dowell have said that they won't make their decision final until Sunday.

Ritchey Keeps Afleet Alex At Pimlico To Assess Condition Before Shipping To New York For Belmont

Ritchey Keeps Afleet Alex At Pimlico To Assess Condition Before Shipping To New York For Belmont Trainer Tim Ritchey reported Sunday morning that Afleet Alex appeared to have emerged from his eventful 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes in fine physical condition. However, the Delaware-based trainer said he’ll keep a close eye on the son of Northern Afleet to make sure that no problems arise from his colt’s frightening collision with Scrappy T at the top of the Pimlico stretch.“We’ll have to monitor him for at least three or four days,” Ritchey said. “What concerns me is (the chance of) muscle injuries, because he was contorted in a way that horses aren’t meant to be. But he walked perfect today.” Ritchey plans to keep Afleet Alex, owned by Cash is King LLC, at Pimlico until Friday instead of shipping him to Belmont Park on Wednesday, as originally planned. The colt is scheduled to start next in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11.Ritchey, who reported that Afleet Alex had suffered only a superficial scrape on his left front ankle, said the incident with Scrappy T at the top of the stretch considerably tempered his Preakness celebration.“Probably that problem at the head of the stretch took some of the emotion out of me, because of my concern for the horse. One of my friends said, ‘You were the most emotionless person who won the Preakness,’” Ritchey said. “I was more concerned and focused on my horse to make sure he didn’t go down and he was okay. Even past the finish line, I tried to see him as much as I could.”On Sunday morning, Ritchey was able to enjoy his first Preakness victory and Afleet Alex’s amazing recovery from the incident that had the potential for disaster.“The Steelers had the Immaculate Reception. What do you call this? The Immaculate Recovery?” asked the Pittsburgh football fanatic, who was still marveling at his colt’s athleticism that enabled him to maintain his balance after clipping heels and bumping with Scrappy T, who suddenly veered out into his path.Although Afleet Alex had demonstrated extraordinary athleticism, the colt’s temperament may have been just as important during the incident in the stretch.“I’ve never seen him get upset about anything, ever. He has never shied or spooked from anything he’s been exposed to,” Ritchey said. “He is Mr. Laid-back.”Ritchey also credited jockey Jeremy Rose for his role in Afleet Alex’s Preakness victory.“They’re hand-in-hand. You’ve got a great athlete in the rider and a very superior athlete in the horse,” Ritchey said. “The horse has to maintain his balance, but the rider has to maintain his balance on top of the horse, as well. It was a combination of things and a lot of luck, too.”Rose, who had ridden Afleet Alex within a length of victory in the Kentucky Derby during a third-place finish, said he just “hung on,” but he conceded that jockeys may not receive the credit they deserve.“A lot of people like to say jockeys aren’t athletes, but on a weight-to-strength ratio, they can put us up against baseball players, football players and basketball players,” said Rose, who reported that Scrappy T’s jockey Ramon Dominguez apologized for the incident.Rose said he’s confident that Afleet Alex will handle the mile and a half distance of the Belmont Stakes.“If you’ve got enough horse under you, you just have to wait a little longer,” he said.Afleet Alex won’t have a chance to go for a sweep of the Triple Crown in the Belmont, but his trainer refused to lament his colt’s narrow loss in the Derby.“You never look back in this business. We were third in the Derby. If you look back, you’ll drive yourself crazy,” Ritchey said. “We’re grateful to win the Preakness and have a horse in good shape after that eventful race.” SCRAPPY T – After returning to Delaware Park, trainer Robbie Bailes reported that Preakness runner-up Scrappy T came out of the race “super,” but he stopped short of committing to the Belmont Stakes.“We haven’t thought about his next race. We’ll talk about it for the next couple of days. We have options, but the main deal is to see how he is. We want to make sure that he doesn’t come up body sore,” Bailes said.Bailes said that it was “unfortunate” that Scrappy T suddenly veered out into Afleet Alex’s path at the top of the stretch, but he expressed pleasure in his gelding’s performance.“He ran a big race. I just wish we had a different result. Ramon (jockey Dominguez) said he had a ton of horse when he made the lead,” said Bailes, whose colt finished five lengths in front of Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. “Both horses lost momentum. It’s a credit to both horses that they went on and finished strong.” GIACOMO – The Kentucky Derby winner, who finished third in the Preakness, was headed back to California Sunday.Trainer John Shirreffs, who flew back to the West Coast Saturday night, was not available for comment Sunday morning about the future of the gray son of Holy Bull.However, the Los Angeles Times reported that owner Jerry Moss was in favor of shipping Giacomo to New York for the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Moss said he would discuss it with the trainer. SUN KING/NOBLE CAUSEWAY/HIGH FLY – Trainer Nick Zito’s trio of Preakness starters was reported to be fine Sunday morning, but it’s not likely that Sun King (4th), Noble Causeway (6th) or High Fly (10th) will run in the Belmont Stakes.“I don’t see any of our Preakness horses running in the Belmont,” Zito said, although you never say never. “Sun King ran a good race, but I don’t think you’ll see him in the Belmont,” said Zito, who praised Afleet Alex’s professionalism, as well as his athleticism, in handling adversity.Zito said Pinpoint, who captured the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, is a possibility to join Andromeda’s Hero in the Belmont Stakes field. HIGH LIMIT – The Maria’s Mon colt, who bounced back to be fifth in the Preakness after finishing last of 20 in the Kentucky Derby, came out of the race in good shape and will be shipped back to New York.Jose Cuervas, assistant to trainer Bobby Frankel, said the colt was not being considered for the Belmont Stakes.“He’ll get a little break now,” Cuervas said.High Limit, winner of the Louisiana Derby, is owned by Gary and Mary West. GREELEY’S GALAXY – The Mr. Greeley colt, who finished seventh in the Preakness, some 20 lengths behind Afleet Alex, headed home to California Sunday morning.“He came out of the race very good, and he was perfect this morning,” trainer Warren Stute said from his base at Hollywood Park. “He had no excuses in the race, and that’s not good.“So now we’ll bring him home and sit down with the owner (B. Wayne Hughes) and evaluate him and his future.”Greeley’s Galaxy won the Illinois Derby by more than nine lengths and was supplemented to the Triple Crown for a fee of $200,000. He finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby.MALIBU MOONSHINE – The local hero made a credible showing in the Preakness, running eighth behind Afleet Alex, and returned to his Laurel stall immediately after the Preakness.“He came out of the race okay,” said trainer King Leatherbury. “We knew we didn’t have the best of chances going in, but we had an opportunity to run in the Preakness, and if you have an opportunity to run in this race, you take it. We had to take a shot.”Malibu Moonshine, owned by Woodrow Marriott, won the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico in his race prior to the Preakness. CLOSING ARGUMENT – The Kentucky Derby second, who didn’t seem to care for the racetrack on Preakness Day, will be taking a break for a while, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday.“We’ll just sit back and let him have some time off,” McLaughlin said. “We’ll take a look at the Haskell and Travers (both in August), but nothing sooner.”Closing Argument, who had never been worse than third in eight career starts, finished ninth in the Preakness as the fourth choice at 7-1.“He bled a little,” McLaughlin said, “like three on a scale of 10, but otherwise he came out of the race fine. Cornelio (jockey Cornelio Velasquez) said he didn’t like the track, and I guess that’s true because he didn’t run his race.”Owners Philip and Marcia Cohen sold a half-interest in the Successful Appeal colt to Sequel Bloodstock (Becky Thomas) and JMJ Stable (Dennis Narlinger) on Friday, the day before the Preakness.HAL’S IMAGE – The homebred colt by Halo’s Image will hit the road again Sunday afternoon, starting the long van ride back to Calder Race Course in Florida.“We’ll all be home tomorrow,” said Barry Rose, who trains the colt bred by his late father, Harold Rose.Hal’s Image finished 11th in the Preakness after getting shuffled back early.“It was a great experience to be here,” Rose said, “but it would have been nicer if he had run better.”Rose said he’ll keep the colt home at Calder for a while.“I’d like to get a couple of good races under him in Florida, and then take a look at other possibilities.” WILKO – The Awesome Again colt, who finished 12th in the Preakness, was headed back to his California base Sunday morning.“He bled a little,” trainer Craig Dollase said, “and I guess the Derby took a little more out of him than we thought.“The plan right now is just to let him rest and regroup for a while, and then we’ll decide where we go next.”Wilko, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after an active 2-year-old season in England, finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby for owners J. Paul Reddam and Susan Roy.GALLOPING GROCER – The New York-bred colt returned to his Belmont Park base Sunday morning.Dominick Schettino trains the son of A.P Jet, who finished 13th in the Preakness as the longest price on the board, 27-1.GOING WILD – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday morning that it was time to regroup with Going Wild, who finished last in the 14-horse Preakness field after prompting the early pace.“I’m going to start doing with him what he does best – keep him under a mile,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He’s quick.”Lukas said recent maiden winner A.P. Arrow is a possibility for the Belmont Stakes.“He looks like a true mile and a half horse,” said Lukas, “but I’d say it’s less than 50-50.”

Afleet Alex Sets Sights on Belmont Stakes

Afleet Alex Sets Sights on Belmont Stakes

BALTIMORE - Other than a slightly scraped left ankle, Afleet Alex seems in perfect shape after his remarkable victory in the Preakness Stakes.
A relieved trainer Tim Ritchey delivered the good news Sunday as he leaned against a fence near the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course. A few yards away, Afleet Alex grazed quietly, as if his brush with catastrophe in Saturday's race had never happened.
"I've never seen him get upset about anything, ever," Ritchey said. "He has never shied or spooked from anything he's been exposed to. He is Mr. Laid Back."
Ritchey said Afleet Alex would remain at Pimlico a few more days, then head to New York for the Belmont Stakes on June 11.
"He seems to be fine," Ritchey said, "but what concerns me are muscle injuries because he was contorted in a way horses aren't meant to be. He walked well this morning, he ate everything and he certainly looks good now."
Before pulling off to a 4 3/4-length victory, a frightening collision with Scrappy T at the top of the stretch sent Afleet Alex to his knees, with jockey Jeremy Rose hanging on for dear life.
"It could have been horrific," Rose said.
Incredibly, Afleet Alex and Rose gathered themselves, regained their momentum and won in sensational fashion, with Scrappy T second and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo third.
Ritchey, a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers' fans, was happy to equate Afleet Alex's "big play" in the Preakness with one pulled off by his favorite team.
"The Steelers had the Immaculate Reception," Ritchey said. "What do you call this? The Immaculate Recovery?"
Ritchey said the bruise is in back of the left front ankle, where Afleet Alex's left hind leg clipped his front leg "whenever he had to get himself off the ground."
The trainer credited the athleticism of Afleet Alex and Rose, a former wrestler, for averting what could have been a disastrous spill.
"They're hand in hand," Ritchey said. "The horse has to maintain his balance, but the rider has to maintain his balance on top of the horse. It was a combination of things — and a lot of luck, too."
After watching replays of the collision, Ritchey said Afleet Alex's nose was about 4 inches from the ground. Rose said "4 to 6 inches at 40 miles per hour, and that's way too close for comfort."
Afleet Alex finished third in the Derby, beaten in the final strides by 50-1 long shot Giacomo, with Closing Argument second at almost 72-1. What if Alex held on, and a Triple Crown was on the line in the Belmont?
"If you look back, you'll drive yourself crazy," Ritchey said. "We're grateful to win the Preakness and have a horse in good shape after that eventful race."
Trainer Nick Zito hasn't gone crazy, but his Triple Crown season has gone haywire. Two weeks after failing to win the Derby with a record-tying five horses, the best he could do with three Preakness starters was fourth with Sun King. Noble Causeway was sixth, and second-favorite High Fly was 10th in the 14-horse field.
"You can't win everything," Zito said.
Zito will be back for the Belmont, most likely with Andromeda's Hero (eighth in the Derby) and Pinpoint, who won the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard.
The trainer also said beaten Derby favorite Bellamy Road, sidelined with a popped splint (bone), could return to training in a few weeks and be ready to race at Saratoga this summer.
Giacomo, scheduled to return to California on Sunday, appears to be the only other Preakness starter being considered for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.
Other Belmont possibles include Buzzards Bay (fifth in the Derby), Southern Africa and Shamoan. The Belmont will be run for the first time in four years without a Triple Crown on the line.