Belmont Park Notes 06/09

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

Belmont Park Notes

Donk takes a double shot in G1 Jaipur
Casa Creed seeks third straight G1 Jaipur conquest
G1 Manhattan could be the cherry on top of a big weekend for Buick; With The Moonlight scratched from G1 New York
Slow Down Andy returns in G1 Met Mile; Anarchist upset-minded in G2 True North
Fort Bragg to miss G1 Woody Stephens due to illness
G1 Belmont Stakes contenders continue preparations for the “Test of the Champion”
Belmont Park Week 7 stakes probables

ELMONT, N.Y. – David Donk will be in a New York state of mind when the locally-based horseman saddles half-brothers Yes and Yes and Thin White Duke Saturday on the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets undercard in the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur, which has attracted a double-tough full field of top turf sprinters traveling six furlongs.

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

“They both ran really well last year. Yes and Yes loves Belmont Park. It’s amazing how good he is here, and he showed it last time,” Donk said of the two longshots.”

Yes and Yes is a 7-year-old gelded son of Sidney’s Candy out of the Distorted Humor mare Aberdeen Alley and was bred in Kentucky by co-owner Phil Gleaves, who was a longtime trainer based on the New York circuit. Thin White Duke is a 5-year-old gelding out of the same mare by Dominus whom Gleaves bred in Kentucky.

Yes and Yes, 20-1 on the morning line, will be on familiar footing when he breaks from the inside post under Florent Geroux. In 14 outings on the Belmont green, he has a record of 5-4-3. Thin White Duke, who is indeed named for megastar David Bowie’s on-stage persona, hasn’t hit the board in five efforts, but Donk is hoping that will change when the 30-1 choice departs post 7 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

“Last year, Thin White Duke won going long. We had a decision to make going to Saratoga. Do we run him long or short? It looked like going long was a little too far for him. He’s become an off-the-pace sprinter,” Donk said.

Both horses competed here in the Elusive Quality on May 6 in their last outings. Yes and Yes was beaten by a nose in the seven-furlong turf test while Thin White Duke came in fourth.

“Duke had some traffic trouble. He’s a horse who likes to be in the clear, so I think he’s better than what he’s run so far. Yes and Yes ran lights out,” said their conditioner. “But the next progression is we’re stabled in New York, so what’s the next race for them? It’s the Jaipur. The only negative is it came up a tough race.”

Nevertheless, there are only two Grade 1 turf sprints on the national racing calendar, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and the Jaipur.

“We’re stabled here. We’re not ducking anybody. It’s our home course,” said Donk. “Obviously, there will be a lot of pace, at least that’s how it looks on paper, and that will suit Thin White Duke. Yes and Yes can be somewhat tactical. But he loves Belmont, so we’ll see. It will be fun to be part of Belmont Day, regardless. I’d like to think they’ll both outrun their odds.”

The Donk-trained, Gleaves-bred double entry in the Jaipur is truly a family affair, human as well as equine.

Donk worked for legendary Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens, who won a record-setting five consecutive Belmont Stakes 1982-86, from 1984-1990. Gleaves preceded him as Woody’s assistant from 1977 to 1985 before he launched his successful training career. Former Daily Racing Form editor-in-chief and New York Times turf writer and columnist Steven Crist, who covered the stables of Stephens, Gleaves and Donk over the decades, is one of Thin White Duke’s owners.

“It is coming full circle and it is really nice. For Phil to be the breeder of these two horses. He’s doing something right there,” said Donk, the only one of those three not now retired. “I always had a good relationship with Phil over the years. Sometimes we had horses for the same clients. We always stayed in touch. He’s a wonderful person and a wonderful horseman and it’s an honor to train for him. Steve and the other owners are great friends and clients.”

Donk, 63, has no desire to join his good buddies in retirement any time soon.

“I’m a little older now, but I still love the game. It’s my passion. I love to get out of bed in the morning. It’s seven days a week but I’m very fortunate to be able to do this. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of good clients. It’s a lot of fun and I’m really blessed,” he said. “It’s a true honor to be running these horses on Belmont Day.”

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Casa Creed seeks third straight G1 Jaipur conquest

LRE Racing and JEH Racing’s evergreen Casa Creed will attempt a rare accomplishment on Saturday in capturing three straight editions of the same Grade 1 in the six-furlong $400,000 Jaipur over Belmont Park’s Widener turf course. The Jaipur offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Santa Anita.

Casa Creed, a bay multimillionaire son of Jimmy Creed trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, captured the 2021 Jaipur by launching a devastating late kick in mid-stretch to win by two lengths at 10-1 odds over stablemate Chewing Gum. The effort garnered a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. He used his same closing tactics to capture last year’s Jaipur when saving ground down the backstretch and mowing down pacesetters Arrest Me Red and True Valour to win by a half-length.

Now 7-years-young, Casa Creed will be out for redemption as he arrives off a close second beaten a head in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint on February 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia. There, he was widest of all coming around the turn and had dead aim on Bathrat Leon in the stretch but came up a head shy of victory. Casa Creed came up a slim margin short in the same international endeavor last year, and followed with a fifth in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai ahead of the Jaipur.

Lee Einsidler of LRE Racing described his Saudi Arabia effort as “fabulous.”

“He probably ran about 50 yards further than the winner. The winner saved all the ground and we were wide,” said Einsidler, who owns Casa Creed in partnership with radio personality Mike Francesa [JEH Racing]. “We got beat by about six inches, but I think we ran so much further than the winner, so from our perspective, he certainly ran a winning race. Being that he’s a 7-year-old now, we decided to skip Dubai and give him a little extra time with a third Jaipur in mind.”

In pursuit of his third straight Jaipur score, Casa Creed will dive into deep waters, which includes reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victress Caravel, graded stakes winner Big Invasion, last year’s runner up Arrest Me Red and Nothing Better, who has finished no worse than third in his last 12 starts dating back to July 2021. He has trained with stablemate and 2022 Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power leading up to Saturday’s race. He exits post 11 in the Jaipur under Luis Saez.

“We’re very excited. He’s training great. He loves Belmont and I think this being his third Jaipur, this seems like the deepest field that he’s gone against,” Einsidler said. “I like his post a lot and I think, with a lot of speed, the race sets up great for his closing kick. I expect another great performance. He’s been working in the morning right alongside Elite Power and just doing fabulous.”

Casa Creed enjoyed his most productive season last year, capturing the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave in August at Saratoga Race Course, defeating Regal Glory who was ultimately named Champion Turf Mare. Casa Creed finished third in the previous two editions of the prestigious turf mile at the Spa and captured the first of his four graded triumphs in the 2019 Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

“Right now we’re focused on tomorrow, but if all goes well and he’s doing well the logical next race would be the Fourstardave,” Einsidler said. “He’s always done well in Saratoga, he ran well in the Fourstardave the past three years. He beat a very talented horse in Regal Glory. Casa Creed beat her handily.”

While proud of the horse, Einsidler expressed some disappointment in not being in the running for an Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Male last year.

“To be quite frank, we were disappointed that we weren’t in the top three for an Eclipse Award,” Einsidler said. “We were shocked by that after winning two straight Jaipurs, winning the Fourstardave and beating Regal Glory. We were scratching our heads that we weren’t in the top three, but I guess we have to leave that up to the voters.

“But for myself and my partner Mike Francesa, it’s all about race day,” Einsidler continued. “The awards are cool, but they’re secondary. For us, it’s all about the day of the race and we’re excited about tomorrow.”

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G1 Manhattan could be the cherry on top of a big weekend for Buick; With The Moonlight scratched from G1 New York

Jockey William Buick needs no introduction to top-class international racing, being blessed with the high-profile first-call role for Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin yard. Making the most of it, the Britain-based Norwegian native and reigning champion jockey in the UK has landed Group or Grade 1s in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, UAE, Canada and the USA—including seven Breeders’ Cups—and will look to add one more in Saturday’s $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan with Ottoman Fleet.

Like Buick—fresh off another successful winter in Dubai and another Group 1 win in May’s Lockinge aboard champion Modern Games—Ottoman Fleet comes into the weekend in top form. The son of Sea The Stars won Newmarket’s Group 3 Earl of Sefton [April 18] and Belmont’s Grade 2 Fort Marcy [May 6], both over nine furlongs, in his last two efforts. Buick had the choice between the 4-year-old gelding, whom he piloted at Newmarket, and beaten Grade 1 Man o’ War favorite Warren Point.

“He’s in excellent form right now,” Buick said. “Both horses drew well in gates three and four, respectively, so that’s a big help, and Ottoman Fleet is a horse I should be able to put where I want. When he won the Fort Marcy, he had a good pace to run at and that was probably his ideal setup. Something similar to that would be great. He obviously likes the track and adapted very well to the style of racing.

“I think he’s a horse who’s still on the up with some improvement left in him,” Buick continued. “Obviously Up to the Mark is still an improving horse and an obvious danger and Warren Point is better than he showed last time, so it’s a competitive race. We just hope all goes to plan and he can show his true ability.”

Buick will seek his first win at Belmont, having finished third in his lone try, the 2022 Grade 1 Man o’ War with Yibir. He quickly made amends in the Empire State with a popular sweep of August’s Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational and Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational with Godolphin’s Nations Pride and With The Moonlight, respectively.

“It was my first time at Saratoga and it was unbelievable, really,” Buick reflected. “When I first went out on the track in the morning before the races on Saturday, the atmosphere and vibe—it was just a great place. Everyone was in a great mood and it was great racing. I really enjoyed it and obviously coming back with two winners made it all the better. It’s a great place and I’m very privileged to have these kinds of opportunities.”

All in all, Buick sports a 21 percent stateside strike rate and more than $13 million in prize money. Needless to say, he was not shying away from another trip across the Atlantic.

“I love coming over here. It’s an easy trip and not all jockeys get this kind of chance,” Buick concluded. “Obviously, Charlie knows what horses to send here and he has done it with great success and riding here helps me improve because you’re going against great riders at the top level. You have to really be on your A-game and I feel very fortunate to be able do so.”

Buick will kick off his Belmont Stakes Racing Festival weekend aboard favorite Siskany in Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, giving him an initial opportunity to get on the scoreboard.

Godolphin’s dual Group 2 winner With The Moonlight, a leading contender for Friday’s Grade 1 New York, has been withdrawn by trainer Charlie Appleby. The winner of last year’s Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational had been pointed to the New York since February.

Appleby said With The Moonlight could try the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on July 15 at Saratoga Race Course or look longer term at the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor on October 8 at Woodbine Racetrack.

“She scoped poorly on Wednesday and obviously it wasn’t ideal, so she’s going to miss today’s engagement,” Appleby said. “We will possibly think of going to the Diana or we might just give her a bit more time and look towards working back from the (Grade 1) E. P. Taylor with her. There’s a trial over there in Canada en route, so that might just be the way forward for her.”

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Slow Down Andy returns in G1 Met Mile; Anarchist upset-minded in G2 True North

Reddam Racing’s multiple graded-stakes winner Slow Down Andy will make his New York and seasonal debut in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up. The Metropolitan is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Santa Anita.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, the 4-year-old Nyquist colt was last seen finishing a close third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland, landing just 1 3/4-lengths back of the victorious Cody’s Wish – a returning rival here.

Slow Down Andy has breezed eight times since April 16 over the Santa Anita main track and O’Neill said the colt is ready to make an impact off the layoff.

“He had a lot of good, strong gallops before we even started breezing him,” O’Neill said. “He has a tremendous foundation, but the lack of racing since November of last year is not the best way to go into facing a horse like Cody’s Wish and some of these others.

“He’s doing really well, though,” added O’Neill. “It’s an extremely tough race, but you can’t win it if you’re not in it. We’re taking a chance with him. We know he’s talented enough, it’s just a matter of if he’s talented enough off the layoff.”

Slow Down Andy made the grade in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December 2021 and captured the nine-furlong Grade 3 Sunland Derby last March. He made a winning debut on turf in September, taking the nine-furlong Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in gate-to-wire fashion.

The California-bred chestnut entered the Breeders’ Cup from a prominent third over the main track in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Awesome Again in October at Santa Anita, a race that saw the top-two finishers – Defunded and Country Grammer – win graded stakes next out.

O’Neill cut Slow Down Andy back in distance for the Dirt Mile and the colt enjoyed a ground-saving trip from the inside post in a field of nine. He shifted into the four-path on the turn for home, but could not get past the one-two finishers Cody’s Wish and Cyberknife.

“He didn’t have a bad trip in the Dirt Mile, he just didn’t have a lucky trip,” O’Neill said. “With a little more luck, I think he could have won. That being said, it gives us hope that when he’s spot on – and we’re hoping that he’ll be spot on – that he can compete with Cody’s Wish. It’s deep waters, but Slow Down Andy is a special colt and we’re optimistic.”

Out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E, Slow Down Andy is a full brother to multiple stakes-winner Team Merchants, a three-time dirt winner including in the Bill Thomas Memorial sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs last March at Sunland Park.

Paul and Zillah Reddam campaigned both Nyquist, the 2016 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner for O’Neill, as well as the Canadian-bred Square Eddie, who won the 2008 Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity.

“Nyquist on top and a Square Eddie mare – there’s something special about that cross,” O’Neill said. “We’re seeing it not only with Slow Down Andy, but with others. Paul and Zillah have been so great for the sport and so great for me, and it’s really nice to see their homebreds do well. It’s extra special, for sure.”

O’Neill, whose best previous Met Mile result was a runner-up effort in 2014 with Goldencents, said a win on Saturday would be a significant one for not only the horse, but the entire Reddam team.

“It would really validate Slow Down Andy as a racehorse,” O’Neill said. “You hear it so often because it’s true that the Met Mile really stamps a horse as having a really strong chance of being a top stallion. That would mean a lot for all of us. For anyone with the ambition of wanting to have a stud, this is a race you want to be part of.”

Mario Gutierrez, aboard for all 10 of Slow Down Andy’s career starts, retains the mount from post 2.

Ilium Stables’ Anarchist, last out winner of the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier over the Woodbine Tapeta, will look to secure his first dirt win when he takes on the reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 True North, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older horses at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old Distorted Humor bay entered the Jacques Cartier from four straight second-place finishes, including a close runner-up effort to Brickyard Ride on April 22 in the Grade 3 Kona Gold traveling 6 1/2-furlongs over the Santa Anita main track.

He shipped to Woodbine and the care of trainer Josie Carroll to win the Jacques Cartier over Ice Chocolat, who is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Jaipur here.

“He’s a horse that kept knocking on the door out here in California and the owners decided to take a chance in the Grade 3 up at Woodbine and that was a great move,” O’Neill said. “He showed a lot of heart and it gave him the confidence he needed and deserved after running four strong seconds, but couldn’t get over the line first. We’re hoping that win at Woodbine is contagious and we can see him come back and shock the world in the True North against a horse like Elite Power, who is arguably one of the top one-turn horses in the world.”

Anarchist also owns a runner-up effort at the True North distance on turf when completing the exacta behind Motorious in the Grade 3 San Simeon over the Santa Anita green.

Joel Rosario, who will pilot Anarchist from post 3, was aboard for a five-eighths breeze in 1:00.43 on June 3 here over Big Sandy.

“Joel came out and worked him the other morning for us and he was really happy with him,” O’Neill said. “He’s fast and he’s solid and strong. He doesn’t seem to have that huge stretch run, so for us to have any chance it would be to be ahead of them turning for home and hope that we can fight them off.

“I don’t see him making up a lot of ground in the lane, but I see him fighting all the way down the lane,” added O’Neill. “He’s an outsider but, in my mind, he has some improvement in him. He’s going to need to show it, and I think he will.”

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Fort Bragg to miss G1 Woody Stephens due to illness

Multiple graded stakes-placed Fort Bragg, the 5-1 morning-line third choice in Saturday’s Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun, will miss the seven-furlong sprint for sophomores due to illness.

Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Fort Bragg shipped in to Belmont Park Tuesday from his base at Santa Anita Park, but showed signs of illness shortly after arriving, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“When he got here, the next morning after shipping, he didn’t finish his grain and we checked him and he had a slight temperature,” Baffert said. “When we took his blood, he had an elevated white blood cell count. He’s fine, it’s just bad timing.”

Baffert added the son of Tapit, who finished second in Churchill Downs’ Grade 2 Pat Day Mile after a thrilling stretch duel with General Jim on May 6, will likely be rerouted to the one-mile Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer on July 1 at Belmont.

Fort Bragg, a $700,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, is out of the stakes-winning Shanghai Bobby mare March X Press and has amassed $211,300 in earnings through a 7-1-2-2 record.

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G1 Belmont Stakes contenders continue preparations for the “Test of the Champion”

A talented field of nine sophomores will line up for the 155th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Training resumed in usual fashion on Friday as each of the contenders returned to normal course of preparations for Saturday’s “Test of the Champion.”

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan’s Grade 1 Preakness-winner National Treasure had an easy day of it for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“He’s great,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer. “He went to the track today and galloped about a mile and three-eighths. It all depends on how the race sets up. With the right trip, we should be in good shape.”

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher’s pair of contenders each went out just past 6:00 a.m. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Eclipse Champion Forte and Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway’s Grade 1 Blue Grass winner Tapit Trice each loosened up a bit on the training track with easy gallops and the latter appearing very much on his toes.

“They each galloped a mile and three-eighths,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Both are good.”

The trio of Brad Cox-trained contenders Angel of Empire, Hit Show, and Tapit Shoes each returned to the Belmont main track. Cox reported all three remain on target for the Belmont and showed good energy in their exercise.

“They went for their routine gallops, mile and an eighth, mile and a half – something like that,” Cox said. “It was pretty good. They were feeling good and had nice, controlled gallops and they all handled it very well.”

Cox noted that Grade 1 Kentucky Derby alumni Angel of Empire [third] and Hit Show [fifth] are training as forwardly into the Belmont as they did into the Derby.

“They don’t look like they’ve regressed one bit,” said Cox. “I’m super pleased with how they’re training.”

Blue Rose Farm’s Grade 3 Peter Pan-winner Arcangelo visited the main track for trainer Jena Antonucci.

“He’s in chill mode at this point. He’s relaxed and happy. He went for a big, long walk through the paddock and went on from the paddock gap,” Antonucci said. “He galloped an easy mile. We’re not going to change fitness at this point, just keep him happy. He was a good boy.”

Arcangelo will exit post 3 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano on Saturday and Antonucci said she will leave the trip in the capable hands of the veteran rider, who captured his first Kentucky Derby this year aboard Mage.

“It’s up to Javier. We can microanalyse it until the cows come home but Javier has a plan and we’re going to let him go and do his plan,” Antonucci said.

The Arrogate colt is listed as 8-1 on the morning-line.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Red Route One galloped one mile over the Belmont training track for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“He was feeling good, they all were,” said Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s chief assistant.

Eduardo Soto’s Il Miracolo visited the main track for a routine gallop for trainer Antonio Soto.

The Belmont Stakes headlines the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that features a total of 16 stakes events from Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10. For additional information on the 2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com.

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Belmont Park Week 7 stakes probables

Saturday, June 17

G2 Bed o’ Roses

Probable: Beguine (Edward Allard), Caramel Swirl (Bill Mott), Dr B (Butch Reid, Jr.), Goodnight Olive (Chad Brown), Wicked Halo (Steve Asmussen)

Possible: Tarabi (Cherie DeVaux)

Sunday, June 18

NYSSS Spectacular Bid

Probable: Bank Frenzy (Lisa Lewis), Freudmein (Chris Englehart), Gem Mint Ten (Ray Handal), Itsallcomintogetha (Phil Serpe), Oysta (Gary Sciacca), Playinwithmatches (Mark Hennig), Ramblin’ Wreck (Danny Gargan), Twenty Six Black (Horacio De Paz), Vacation Dance (John Kimmel)

NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy

Probable: Athena Beach (Dimitrios Synnefias), Camp Akeela (Tom Amoss), Clover Street (Hennig), Dream On Cara (Mitchell Friedman), Little Linzee (Domenick Schettino), Midtown Lights (Brad Cox), Stolen Future (Mark Casse)

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