Belmont: Saturday’s Grade 1 Stakes Previews

Posted On 08 Jun 2023

Belmont Grade 1 Stakes Previews

Recent Grade 1 winners Up to the Mark, Red Knight mix it up in G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan

By Michael Adolphson

ELMONT, N.Y. – Recent Grade 1 winners Up to the Mark and Red Knight top a decade of contenders for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a 10-furlong inner turf test for 4-year-olds and up.

First contested in 1867, the Manhattan has been won by such standouts as Chief Bearhart, Better Talk Now and Bricks and Mortar – all Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winners – as well as Paradise Creek, who still owns the 10-furlong turf standard [1:57.79], a distance at which it has been contested since 1970.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Up to the Mark exits a breakout performance in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, dismissing rivals by a widening 3 3/4 lengths and earning an eye-catching 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who seeks his first Manhattan, moved the son of Not This Time to the grass in January after going 1-for-5 on the dirt to commence his career. Up to the Mark now boasts a 3-for-4 record on the turf, including a pair of Gulfstream Park allowance wins and a third in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile behind Chez Pierre and champion Modern Games. Saturday will be his first start beyond nine furlongs when he breaks from post 8 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“He gives us the impression that he’ll handle the stretch out in distance,” Pletcher said. “He relaxed very well last time going a mile and an eighth. He came with a good turn-of-foot. He’s got to go out there and prove it, but I love how he’s been doing since we got him on the grass. We just felt like he was underachieving on the dirt. We felt that his first turf race was a ‘wow’ race and he figured out what he wanted.”

Trinity Farm’s hard-knocking New York homebred veteran Red Knight enters off a 12th career victory in the 11-furlong Grade 1 Man o’ War on May 13, his first top-level tally. The 9-year-old son of Pure Prize was a handy victor under Ortiz Jr., striding out by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire to land his second NYRA stakes, having also taken the 2019 Point of Entry. Since being transferred to Mike Maker prior to his 2022 season, the earner of $1,717,763 has won four of his seven starts, all in stakes company. Tyler Gaffalione picks up the mount from post 6, as Ortiz Jr. has opted for the aforementioned.

“He’s doing super,” Maker said. “He’s stronger than jailhouse coffee. I’d like him to get a ground-saving trip and fire home like he normally does.”

Maker also entered Three Diamonds Farm’s Ocean Atlantique, a dual stakes-winning son of American Pharoah who commenced his career in France with Andre Fabre and exits a troubled fourth in Up to the Mark’s Turf Classic. Three races back, the 6-year-old gelding was a gate-to-wire 5 1/4-length victor of Turfway Park’s Dust Commander over Tapeta. Luis Saez rides from post 9.

“He got further back [in the Turf Classic] than we would normally like to see, but he showed a new dimension and ran home,” Maker said. “He had some trouble at the top of the stretch or he might have been second or third. I’m hoping the longer distance will get him in the race sooner.”

As often the case in a world-class turf race, Godolphin indeed looms large, entering the Charlie Appleby-trained pair of Warren Point [post 3, Richie Mullen] and Ottoman Fleet [post 4, William Buick].

Warren Point landed February’s Listed HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup in Bahrain and exits a fifth in Red Knight’s Man o’ War as the 3-5 favorite. Beaten 1 3/4 lengths, he was a bit cantankerous behind the stalls and subsequently slow to break under Frankie Dettori. Rank throughout, the son of Dubawi made an early backstretch move into contention and was unable to sustain momentum in the stretch, getting the shortest straw of a four-horse place photo.

Prior to that run, Warren Point was second to Russian Emperor in the HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar, a local Group 1 race that has international Listed status. Russian Emperor returned to take the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup in Hong Kong on May 28.

“It’s not that Warren Point is that difficult, I think he just likes to get on with it,” Appleby said. “We saw when Richie [Mullen] rode him in Bahrain that he broke well and got into a nice pitch and rhythm before putting the race to bed. Then he went to Doha and got shuffled back and it became a bit of hard work for him. Unfortunately, in the Man o’ War, it was a similar situation. He was always in a bad position and they crawled, causing him to over-race and then he used too much gas pulling and moving too soon. Dropping back to 10 furlongs helps a lot and suits him better, as you’d hope they go more of a gallop. Richie rides him again and suits him well.”

Ottoman Fleet enters off sharp victory in Belmont’s Grade 2 Fort Marcy on May 6 over nine furlongs. The son of Sea The Stars is in flying form, having also landed Newmarket’s Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes at the Craven Meeting on April 18.

Consistent throughout his career, Ottoman Fleet has won or placed in 10 of 11 starts, including four victories—all stakes. After contesting five graded/Group races thus far in 2023, including a good third to multiple graded/Group-winner Nations Pride in Meydan’s Group 3 Dubai Millennium on February 17, Ottoman Fleet makes his Grade 1 bow in the Manhattan.

“Ottoman Fleet is loving everything about being at Belmont and is in top form,” Appleby said. “One thing about him is that he’s done it at the Group level, whereas Warren Point, at the end of the day, still has to prove it at that level and is just a Listed winner. [Ottoman Fleet] has been busy, yes, but it’s been a rather easy campaign. We train a 30-minute van ride from Meydan in Dubai and he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him, in general, if you look at his career.”

Chad Brown leads all trainers with eight Manhattan trophies, including its past four editions. New York’s leading conditioner sends out Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Michael Caruso’s Grade 1-winning Rockemperor, as well as William S. Farish’s Grade 2-placed Highest Honors. The pair worked in company on June 4 over the inner turf, going five furlongs in 1:01.58.

Rockemperor [post 7, Flavien Prat] exits a fourth in Ottoman Fleet’s Fort Marcy and was fourth in last year’s Manhattan. Winner of last season’s Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, the son of Holy Roman Emperor broke through at the top level in Belmont’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in October 2021.

“Rockemperor normally needs a run and the one thing with him is he wasn’t really gaining at the end of the [Fort Marcy],” Brown said. “I was a bit worried that he lost a step, but then I got the number back and it was actually pretty good for a starting figure, so I think if he just moves forward a couple points, it puts him right there. He’s not that far away and the Fort Marcy turned out to be a fast race. He’s come back and trained well, but definitely prefers firm turf.”

Highest Honors [post 10, Joel Rosario], a four-time winner from 17 starts, has finished fourth or better in his last 10 starts, including five graded affairs. A stakes winner on dirt in Saratoga’s 2019 Curlin, the 7-year-old entire son of Tapit exits a fourth in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on March 4 and was withdrawn during the prelims of Keeneland’s Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 22.

“He scratched in the post parade of the Elkhorn last out,” Brown explained. “For whatever reason—maybe he saw something he didn’t like—but the horse is fine and I understand this is a sensitive time, so we just took it, got him off the list over here and he’s just trained brilliantly toward the Manhattan. He breezed with Rockemperor and they had a basic maintenance move. I really liked how both went and I feel like the 10 furlongs will be really good for both of them. They both really like Belmont Park and I think it’s a wide-open race.”

Gary Barber and Kinsman Stable’s Strong Quality [post 2, Florent Geroux] will dive into the proverbial deep end for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and exits a gate-to-wire win in Keeneland allowance company. The son of Quality Road is 2-for-2 on grass and appears on the improve for this considerable ascent in class and stakes debut.

“He’s a horse who has done really well since getting to the turf,” Casse said. “We think the further, the better for him, but obviously the Manhattan is a big step forward. He keeps stepping up his game. We’ll see if he can go to the next level, or not. I do think he’ll like the distance, going a mile and a quarter.”

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael Caruso’s multiple graded stakes-placed Soldier Rising [post 5, Jose Ortiz] enters off a second in the Man o’ War. The Christophe Clement-trained son of Frankel has finished fourth or better in all four of his Grade 1 tries, but has yet to break through at the top level. Clement won back-to-back Manhattans with Gio Ponti [2009] and Winchester [2010].

Completing the lineup is the Naipaul Chatterpaul-owned and trained So High [post 1, Javier Castellano], who has failed to place in his three starts thus far in 2023, all in allowance company. The son of Nathaniel was fifth in both the Grade 1 Man o’ War and Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup in 2021 and has not won since an Aqueduct claiming race in November 2020.

The FOX Sports family of networks will present expansive coverage and analysis of Belmont Stakes Day beginning with America’s Day at the Races on FS1 at 11 a.m. Coverage then shifts to FOX, where America’s Day at the Belmont and Belmont Day on FOX will air from 3-7:30 p.m.

America’s Day at the Belmont Stakes will complement the FOX broadcast with parallel coverage geared to the avid and experienced horseplayer from 4-7:30 p.m. on FS1. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Caravel takes on the boys once more in G1 Jaipur

By Keith McCalmont

ELMONT, N.Y. – Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ reigning Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel will again face males as part of an overflow field in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur, a six-furlong Widener turf sprint for 3-year-olds and upward at Belmont Park.

The Jaipur offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint which will be contested at five furlongs in November at Santa Anita.

Trained by Brad Cox, the 6-year-old Mizzen Mast mare won 5-of-8 starts last year, taking the six-furlong Grade 3 Intercontinental here, as well as the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Franklin at Keeneland. She made every pole a winning one to best the boys at odds of 42-1 in the 5 1/2-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Keeneland.

Caravel has returned in fine form this year with a pair of 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint wins in Kentucky, taking the Grade 2 Shakertown against males in April at Keeneland and the Unbridled Sidney on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. She was re-routed to the Jaipur after initially being considered for the Group 1 King’s Stand on June 20 at Ascot.

“She had some luck up there last year in the Intercontinental against the girls. She’s trained extremely well this year. I’m super happy with the way she’s been doing,” Cox said. “I just thought this would make the most sense in trying to get her back to the Breeders’ Cup and it’s obviously going to be a step up. She’s going to need to be at her best to take on the boys and get the job done, but she’s doing well and we’ll see how it goes.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by her former owner and trainer Elizabeth Merryman, Caravel will exit post 12 in rein to regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione.

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable’s Casa Creed [post 11, Luis Saez] has won the last two runnings of this event for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The 7-year-old Jimmy Creed horse closed from deep to win the 2021 Jaipur at odds of 10-1 and showed similar dimensions last year when rallying to a half-length score over returning rival Arrest Me Red. The versatile bay added the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave to his ledger in August at Saratoga Race Course before finishing off-the-board in his final two starts of 2022, including a ninth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Casa Creed traveled to Saudi Arabia for his seasonal debut and lost a heartbreaker in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint when a head back of Bathrat Leon. That effort nearly replicated his narrow defeat in that same event last year when a neck in arrears of the supremely talented Songline, who successfully defended the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen on Sunday in Tokyo.

Casa Creed has kept good company while preparing for his return from a more than three-month layoff, working regularly with the reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power, who will contest Saturday’s Grade 2 True North.

“He and Elite Power have been breezing together and they seem to be doing well. I’m just hoping he can hold his form,” said Mott, who has won the Jaipur a record five times.

Trainer Christophe Clement, a four-time Jaipur winner, will saddle the hard-luck Big Invasion [post 10, Joel Rosario] for owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.

The 4-year-old Declaration of War colt reeled off six straight wins from February 2022 to August, scoring in the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream Park, the William Walker at Churchill Downs, the Paradise Creek at Belmont, as well as the Spa’s Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Mahony.

Big Invasion’s run came to an end in the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs in September where he was bumped hard at the break before closing to finish third to close out a prosperous campaign.

Although he was a smart winner of his seasonal debut when besting multiple graded-stakes winner Yes I Am Free in the Silks Run in March at Gulfstream, he again found trouble last out when seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint on May 6 after losing position into the turn and checking hard at the eighth-pole.

Clement said Big Invasion has trained well into the Jaipur, posting a half-mile breeze in 49.35 on June 1 over Big Sandy.

“He’s a very good horse and he will get lucky at some stage. Last time, it was overwhelming, but he’s a good horse,” Clement said. “He had a nice work and came out of it in good shape.”

Trainer Wesley Ward, who won this event in 2014 with Undrafted, will saddle a pair of contenders in multiple graded-stakes winner Arrest Me Red [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and multiple group stakes winner Go Bears Go [post 2, Jose Ortiz].

Lael Stables’ Kentucky homebred Arrest Me Red has made two strong starts over the Belmont green, capturing the 2021 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational to earn a 100 Beyer Speed Figure and he earned a 102 figure for his prominent runner-up effort to Casa Creed last year.

Arrest Me Red was third in the Shakertown in his seasonal debut and followed four weeks later with a troubled fifth when attempting to defend his title in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Turf Sprint on May 6 at Churchill.

“He’s been doing really well and I’m excited for the extra time. That really seems to help this guy. He’ll have five weeks between starts,” Ward said. “When you see him in the paddock, he’s shining and looks unbelievably beautiful right now. But we aren’t judging on looks, we’re judging on how fast and how well they run. That added ground for a big guy like this won’t hurt us, that’s for sure.”

AMO Racing’s Go Bears Go, a 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Kodi Bear, was originally campaigned by trainer David Loughnane, taking the 2021 Group 2 Railway at the Curragh as well as the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Pavilion at Ascot and the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh last year.

Go Bears Go has made two trips to the Breeders’ Cup, finishing a closing second to the Ward-trained Twilight Gleaming in the 2021 Juvenile Turf Sprint and 12th last year in the Turf Sprint. He entered from a closing third in his seasonal debut in the aforementioned Churchill Downs Turf Sprint while making his debut for Ward from a six-month layoff.

“He’s a little guy. He’s sort of a barn favorite, everybody loves the horse,” Ward said. “When you see him on the track you think, ‘Wow, look at that 2-year-old go.’ He puts his neck down and goes around there like an awesome little dude. He’s a horse that has no problems and he ran a big race at Churchill, so I’m really looking forward to this race as well.”

The multiple graded-stakes placed Ice Chocolat [post 6, Dylan Davis] is a five-time turf winner looking to break through at the top level for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch, the 5-year-old Goldikovic gelding won the 2021 Group 3 IFHA over heavy turf at Gavea in his native Brazil before shipping to Casse’s care in North America.

Ice Chocolat has raced mainly at Woodbine, finishing second over Tapeta in both the Grade 2 Kennedy Road in November and the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier last out on May 14. A two-time turf winner in Canada, he shipped stateside unsuccessfully for a pair of 5 1/2-furlong turf sprints, including a fifth in the Colonel Power in February at Fair Grounds.

“Some of the races were a little short for him, but he should prefer this distance better. It’s a tough race and he’ll have to step up his game,” Casse said.

A stacked field includes graded-stakes winner Air Force Red [post 3, John Velazquez] for trainer Leonard Powell; Group 3-winner Dr Zempf [post 5, Flavien Prat] for trainer Chad Brown; the speedy multiple stakes-winner Nothing Better [post 9, Manny Franco] for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr.; multiple graded-stakes placed Front Run the Fed [post 13, Reylu Gutierrez] for conditioner Caio Caramori; the graded stakes-placed half-brothers Thin White Duke [post 7, Jorge Vargas, Jr.] and Yes and Yes [post 1, Florent Geroux] for trainer David Donk; the streaking allowance winner Mid Day Image [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche], a New York-bred for trainer David Jacobson; and graded-stakes placed New York-bred Surprise Boss [post 14, Trevor McCarthy] for conditioner Rafael Romero.

On the outside looking in from the also-eligible list are stakes-placed Coppola [post 15, Velazquez] for conditioner Dale Romans; and allowance winner Our Shot [post 16, Javier Castellano] for trainer John Terranova.

The Jaipur is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s lucrative Belmont Stakes Day card. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

-General Jim hoping for a five-star performance in G1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun

ELMONT, N.Y. – Courtlandt Farms’ General Jim will look to win his third straight graded stakes in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Into Mischief colt made the grade in February in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park, posting a one-length score over next-out stakes winner Super Chow.

General Jim followed last out with a gutsy neck score over returning rival Fort Bragg in a frantic finish in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

McGaughey and Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day enjoyed tremendous success through the years, particularly with fellow Hall of Famer Easy Goer, a nine-time Grade 1-winner and victor of one of the most memorable editions of the Belmont Stakes when besting arch-rival Sunday Silence in the 1989 renewal of the “Test of the Champion.”

“I was very thrilled with the win at Churchill. Pat Day is a special guy to me,” McGaughey said. “Early in my career, I think a lot of the success I had was attributed to him and his riding. He suited me and the way I like to do things very well. To be able to win the Pat Day Mile with a horse I like [was special]. To see those two horses [Fort Bragg and General Jim] hook up and run that hard together was a lot of fun.”

General Jim, through a record of 7-4-0-2 for purse earnings of $519,833, has endured some ups and downs in his brief career. A maiden win on turf at second asking in September at Saratoga was followed by a 3 1/4-length allowance win one month later on the Keeneland green. But he would falter as the favorite in the one-mile Central Park over firm footing in November at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The lack of finish at the Big A prompted the veteran conditioner and owner Donald Adam of Courtlandt Farms to move the talented bay back to the main track where he had finished third on debut in August at the Spa.

“I couldn’t quite understand it,” said McGaughey of the Central Park effort. “It looked at the head of the stretch that he had everything under control. Mr. Adam said he’d like to try him back on the dirt, and I understood that. His races have been good since.”

General Jim endured traffic trouble next out in the stretch run of the one-mile Mucho Macho Man on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream Park under regular rider Luis Saez, but was full value in his stalking score in the Swale.

“Saez came back and said, ‘This horse is hard to figure because there’s a lot more there,’” recalled McGaughey of the Mucho Macho Man effort. “So, I fiddled with him, gave him a little time, and he ended up running back good in the Swale.”

Fort Bragg got the jump on General Jim in the Pat Day Mile, surging to the lead after three-quarters and spinning the field into the stretch run. But Saez got to work aboard General Jim and made a six-wide move to collar Fort Bragg with a furlong to run and stayed on strong to secure the win in a final time of 1:34.43.

McGaughey said General Jim, who missed the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March at Gulfstream with a cough, benefitted from the break between starts.

“I gave him a little more time, which I think he needed, and then he ran good in the Pat Day Mile,” McGaughey said.

General Jim will exit post 4 on Saturday and the Hall of Fame trainer said he will let Saez map out a winning trip as the colt again shortens to seven furlongs.

“I think the cutback will be OK,” said McGaughey, who won this event on three occasions when it was known as the Riva Ridge from 1985-2005, scoring with Adjudicating [1990], Gold Fever [1996] and Coronado’s Quest [1998]. “I think he has enough speed where when they break, he’ll be able to put him where he wants to. He’s got a good rider in Saez and I’m not worried about that.”

An $850,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, General Jim, bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock and Centerline Breeding, is out of the stakes-placed Curlin mare Inspired by Grace, who is a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Off the Tracks and multiple graded-stakes winner Concord Point.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a two-time Woody Stephens winner, will saddle a pair of contenders in Fort Bragg [post 8, Joel Rosario] and Arabian Lion [post 3, John Velazquez].

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan’s multiple graded-stakes placed Fort Bragg will add blinkers as he looks to turn the tables on General Jim.

The $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase was third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December and opened his sophomore season with fifth-place finishes in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita in March and the Grade 1 Florida Derby in April at Gulfstream where he lunged at the break.

Last out, Fort Bragg, who is out of the stakes-winning New York-bred mare March X Press, overcame some bumping at the start of the Pat Day Mile before taking command and eventually acquiescing to General Jim in the final jump.

“He ran well. Het got away a little flat footed and just got beat there at the end,” Baffert said. “He got a really good trip, but he just got outrun. If he can bring that race back, it puts him right there.”

Zedan Racing Stables’ graded-stakes placed Arabian Lion earned a field-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure last out with a gate-to-wire four-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on May 20 at Pimlico on the Preakness Day undercard.

That effort came on the heels of a pacesetting half-length loss to First Mission in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Lexington in April at Keeneland.

“We were hoping he would do that the race before and he didn’t,” said Baffert of the Sir Barton tour de force. “I think he’s just learning and getting better and better.”

Baffert had initially considered Arabian Lion, by Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown-winner Justify, for the 12-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in the aftermath of the Sir Barton.

“I’m backing him up. If there was a mile race, it would be better for him but it’s the Woody Stephens and it’s a Grade 1,” Baffert said. “It will be a tough, competitive race. On the turnback, sometimes they run well. We’ll send him back to two turns again after that.”

Arabian Lion, whose third dam is the McGaughey-trained Hall of Famer Personal Ensign, was purchased for $600,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Drew’s Gold [post 13, Jose Gomez] is undefeated in four starts and will make his graded debut for trainer James Chapman, who co-owns the $25,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in partnership with Stuart Tsujimoto.

The Violence ridgling has won at four different tracks, taking his debut last May at Churchill and returning to best winners in his seasonal debut in January at Laurel Park. Drew’s Gold has made his most recent two outings in NYRA circuit stakes traveling six furlongs under Jose Gomez, scoring in the Jimmy Winkfield in February at the Big A and last out in the Gold Fever on May 12 over Big Sandy.

The multiple graded-stakes placed Gilmore [post 12, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] is trained by Brendan Walsh and owned by the same connections as Fort Bragg.

By Twirling Candy and out of the Henny Hughes mare My Surfer Girl, the $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase finished second in the nine-furlong El Camino Real Derby over the Golden Gate synthetic when in Baffert’s barn.

Gilmore has made his last three starts for Walsh, including a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Bay Shore in April at Aqueduct and a deep-closing effort last out to finish third in the Pat Day Mile.

“He’s doing great. He’s been progressive all year,” Walsh said. “I thought he ran a very good race in the Pat Day Mile and he’s got to improve again to be competitive in the Woody Stephens, but I think he’s on an upward curve. Hopefully, he’ll show that on Saturday. The more pace, the better for him.”

Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations stakes-winner Victory Formation [post 11, Florent Geroux] will return to one turn for the first time this year for trainer Brad Cox.

The $340,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase won his first three career starts, capturing a pair of one-turn sprints in Kentucky last year before winning his seasonal debut around two turns in the one-mile Smarty Jones on January 1 at Oaklawn Park, where he bested next-out Grade 2 Risen Star-winner Angel of Empire.

Victory Formation was a distant ninth in the nine-furlong Risen Star in February at the Fair Grounds and landed a pacesetting third on his return last out in the nine-furlong Bath House Row when a half-length back of the victorious Red Route One, who will contest Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

“We gave him the opportunity around two turns after being successful in starting his career around one turn,” Cox said. “I’m hoping the cutback will propel him forward to where he’ll be competitive in graded stakes. This is a Grade 1, so he’ll need to take a move forward. He seems to be training well and I think he fits with the group.”

The Tapwrit colt, bred by Gainesway Thoroughreds, is a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-placed turf mare Bellamore.

A competitive field also includes the graded-stakes placed Fort Warren [post 9, Sheldon Russell] for conditioner Brittany Russell; the undefeated Jorge Delgado-trained New York Thunder [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], who captured the six-furlong Woodstock last out over the Woodbine synthetic; the stakes-placed Gun Pilot [post 2, Tyler Gaffalione] for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen; stakes-placed Arman [post 5, Jose Ortiz] for trainer Peter Miller; Federal Judge [post 7, Flavien Prat], who is undefeated in two starts and makes his stakes debut for trainer Rodolphe Brisset; maiden winner Harrodsburg [post 6, Manny Franco], who earned a 99 Beyer at second asking when defeated a nose by older company in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance sprint here for trainer Rob Atras; and maiden winner Dark Vector [post 10, Javier Castellano], who makes his stakes debut for conditioner George Weaver.

The Woody Stephens is slated as Race 8 on Saturday’s lucrative Belmont Stakes Day card. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

Clairiere faces Secret Oath once more in pursuit of G1 Ogden Phipps title defense

By Ryan Martin

ELMONT, N.Y. – Three-time Grade 1 winner Clairiere will face last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath for the third time this season when seeking a repeat conquest of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

The 55th running of the nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Distaff in November at Santa Anita and has seen seven of its winners subsequently garner Championship honors, including Proud Delta [1976], Personal Ensign [1988], Sky Beauty [1994], Ashado [2005], Close Hatches [2014], Midnight Bisou [2019] and Letruska [2021].

Clairiere will attempt to join Heatherten [1984-85], Sightseek [2003-04] and Take D’Tour [2006-07] as back-to-back winners of the Ogden Phipps, while seeking to provide Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen with his fourth win in the last five runnings of the event.

A homebred product of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables, Clairiere has proven a force the past three seasons, earning Grade 1 wins during each campaign and amassing field-best earnings of $2,831,392 through a record of 18-7-5-3. Amongst her career highlights are capturing the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing in 2021, as well as defeating eventual Champion Older Dirt Female Malathaat in last year’s Ogden Phipps, earning a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

The bay daughter of multiple Champion producing sire Curlin handed Malathaat, also a Stonestreet-bred Curlin filly, another defeat when they squared off in the next out Grade 2 Shuvee at Saratoga Race Course, before finishing a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.

She closed the curtain on her 4-year-old season with a dramatic three-horse photo finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland, where she finished third by a head behind the victorious Malathaat and runner-up Blue Stripe.

Now a 5-year-old, Clairiere is poised for another high-caliber season, which she kicked off with a runner-up effort to Secret Oath in the Grade 2 Azeri on March 11 at Oaklawn Park. She then turned the tables on Secret Oath in Oaklawn Park’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15, furiously mowing down the 2022 Kentucky Oaks winner in deep stretch to win by a neck.

Clairiere’s connections are hopeful that her season will end with Eclipse Award honors.

“She was a head away from it last year,” said Stonestreet Stables advisor John Moynihan. “She was very, very sound last year and she’s always been sound. Steve has always thought she would get better every year she’s been in training, and we expect her to continue on with the same form that she had last year. She may be even a little better this year than she was last year.”

Engaging in a rivalry last season with Malathaat, who was bred by Stonestreet and owned by Shadwell Stable, was sentimental for the Stonestreet team.

“For Barbara, she’s loved it,” Moynihan said. “She’s a homebred product of the Stonestreet program and what Barbara has put together. When she ran against Malathaat, it added a lot of fun for Barbara being at the races and to have had a hand in producing both of them.”

Clairiere is out of Stonestreet’s multiple Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Cavorting, who captured the 2016 Ogden Phipps for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. At three, Cavorting did the bulk of her running in one-turn sprints and captured prominent events like the 2015 Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga before stretching out to two turns at four. Cavorting retired following a win in the 2016 Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

“Her mother ran there and won some big races in New York. Most of her resume was built in New York and Clairiere is doing the same thing. I know Barbara is very excited,” Moynihan said. “They both really like to win, but this is her first foal. There’s obviously a lot of similarities, they’ve won and run in some of the same races and it’s kind of a unique situation.

“As a 3-year-old we kept Cavorting at one turn. But Kiaran really thought she relaxed quite a bit as she got older,” Moynihan added. “She trained herself into races in the morning and put a lot into her training. As she turned into her 4-year-old year, she was a lot easier on herself in her training and he wanted to experiment and take her a little farther.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount aboard Clairiere from the outermost post 6.

Briland Farm’s Kentucky homebred Secret Oath will be out for revenge following the Apple Blossom when she breaks from post 4.

Trained by legendary Hall of Fame horseman D. Wayne Lukas, Secret Oath has put together a record of 16-6-4-3 while banking $2,334,767 in earnings.

After handing Clariere a 2 3/4-length defeat in the Azeri, Secret Oath appeared poised for victory in upper stretch of the Apple Blossom under Tyler Gaffalione, but was thwarted by her rival in the final furlong. A daughter of Arrogate, she enters the Ogden Phipps off another neck defeat when second to returning rival Played Hard in the Grade 1 La Troienne on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Lukas, who saddled previous Ogden Phipps winners Serena’s Song [1996] and A Wild Ride [1991], said his only concern is how his filly will handle the Belmont surface, which she will race on for the first time on Saturday.

“It’s a much different surface than at Oaklawn or Churchill or even Saratoga,” Lukas said. “She’s such a good mover, I’m just hoping that she’ll adapt to that deeper surface and show up. That’s my only concern, but she’s training great. The timing is good, she’s fresh and ready to go.”

Tyler Gaffalione, aboard in all three of her starts this year, retains the mount aboard Secret Oath as she pursues her first Grade 1 triumph since the Kentucky Oaks.

“Tyler knows her a little better now and will ride her a little smarter than he did in some of those others,” Lukas said.

Klaravich Stables’ Chad Brown-trained Search Results [post 2, Flavien Prat] will make her third straight appearance in a Grade 1 on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

The dark bay 5-year-old Into Mischief mare finished third in last year’s Ogden Phipps and will be in pursuit of her first Grade 1 victory since capturing the 2021 Acorn here on Belmont Stakes Day. She has finished at least third in 12-of-13 lifetime starts, only missing the board in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff when sixth beaten 10 lengths.

Search Results, a close second in the 2021 Kentucky Oaks, made her seasonal debut in the La Troienne, where she finished an even third beaten three-quarters of a length.

Brown expressed pleasure with the ground-saving effort, but said he would like to see her placed more toward the outside to launch her bid this time around.

“She didn’t get a good trip last year. She’s doing really well and she got a nice race that she needed in the La Troienne,” Brown said. “She was saving ground, which I like, but she never quite extracted herself off the rail to be outside in the stretch, which is where she might want to be. It was a good first race back and she seems to have moved forward off it.”

Rigney Racing’s Played Hard [post 5, John Velazquez] provided trainer Phil Bauer with his first Grade 1 triumph when defeating Secret Oath in the La Troienne. The Into Mischief 5-year-old was making her first start since winning the Grade 3 Falls City at Churchill Downs in gate-to-wire fashion.

Played Hard rounded herself into graded stakes winning form last fall when capturing the Grade 3 Locust Grove at Churchill Downs before earning Grade 1 black type for the first time when third in Keeneland’s Spinster.

Trainer George Weaver will saddle R.A. Hill Stable and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ newly minted graded stakes winner Pass the Champagne [post 1, Feargal Lynch].

The 5-year-old Flatter mare enters off a victory in the Grade 2 Ruffian on May 6 at Belmont Park and will make her first start at Grade 1 level since finishing 12th-of-13 in the 2021 Kentucky Oaks. She earned Grade 1 black type when a close second to Malathaat in that year’s Ashland.

Completing the field is five-time winner Gamestonks [post 3, Jean Alvelo] who enters off a Penn National allowance victory. The daughter of Blofeld is trained by Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon.

The Ogden Phipps honors the late stockbroker, court tennis champion, horse owner, and Hall of Fame inductee, whose black and cherry cap silks have been synonymous with New York racing for over a half-century. Phipps owned and bred nine Champions including Hall of Famers Buckpasser, Personal Ensign, and Easy Goer.

In 2019, Phipps was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame’s Pillars of the Turf for his many contributions to racing. Previously run as the Hempstead Handicap, the race was renamed to pay homage to Phipps in 2003, one year after his death. Phipps’ legacy is carried on today by grandchildren Ogden Phipps, II and Daisy Phipps Pulito, who manage Phipps Stable.