Belmont Park Notes

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

G1 Preakness winner War of Will jogs at Keeneland
Catalina Cruiser to make 2019 debut in G2 True North
Bound for Nowhere, Undrafted possible for G1 Jaipur Invitational
Ward sends pair of first time starters to Tremont Trial D
Abreu looking to get Stellar Agent back on track in Saturday allowance
Cassidy weighing Grade 1 Manhattan and Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup for Epical
Stall applications for 2019 Saratoga meet due June 4

ELMONT, N.Y. – Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner War of Will went back to the track for the first time since his classic triumph, turning in an easy jog at Keeneland on Thursday, May 23.

Getting the bay colt’s energy reserves replenished following the first two legs of the Triple Crown is the main objective for David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, in preparing War of Will for an expected run in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, slated for Saturday, June 8.

Carroll said the son of War Front would have an easy time of things this week before likely shipping to New York approximately 10 days before the race and having a workout over the Belmont main track.

“He was happy to jog and right now we’re just building up his energy,” said Carroll. “He was good. He felt great soundness wise. I’m sure in a couple days he’ll be wanting to do a bit more. But it was good to get him back under tack.”

It has been an eventful few weeks for War of Will, beginning with his highly-publicized run in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4 where he nearly became entangled with Maximum Security. After crossing the wire eighth and being elevated to seventh via disqualification, Gary Barber’s colt showed what he could do with a clear trip when he surged up the rail to capture the Preakness by 1 ¼ lengths.

That victory marked the first win in a Triple Crown race for Casse, Barber, and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. It also sparked a wild celebration scene inside the Carroll household back in the Bluegrass.

“It was terrific not just for me but for the whole team – anyone associated with him. Just …. for him to show what he’s capable of; have a nice, clean trip and run the race we all thought he was capable of,” said Carroll, who has been with the Casse barn since 2016. “The emotions were overwhelming. I watched [the Preakness] at home with my son Declan and it got pretty crazy. I’m glad no one had a camera on us.”

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Catalina Cruiser will make 2019 debut in G2 True North

Southern California-based conditioner John Sadler enjoyed a solid campaign last season with two-time graded stakes winner Catalina Cruiser and hopes for another great year with the talented chestnut son of Union Rags, who is set to make his 5-year-old debut in the Grade 2, $250,000 True North on June 7 as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival slated for June 6 – 8.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Catalina Cruiser won the San Diego Handicap and Pat O’Brien [both Grade 2] last summer at Del Mar, the former of which produced a 107 Beyer Speed Figure matching a number that he recorded when defeating winners after his successful career debut. He has not raced since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, which was his first loss and his first start outside of California.

“He’s coming back really well,” Sadler said. “There’s nothing for him at Santa Anita that fits in the schedule and he had a great work last week. He’s probably one of the best looking horses in training right now, so hopefully we go over there and make a good showing.”

Bred in Kentucky by William Farish, Catalina Cruiser is out of the Mineshaft broodmare Sea Gull and is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Eagle. Bloodstock agent Anthony Martin purchased Catalina Cruiser at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015 for $370,000.

Sadler will also be busy on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8, stating that Woodford Racing’s Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup winner Campaign will target the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational, while Nolo Contesto will race in the $150,000 Easy Goer. The 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind Roadster.

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Bound for Nowhere, Undrafted possible for G1 Jaipur Invitational

Trainer Wesley Ward is considering stakes winning turf sprinters Bound for Nowhere and Undrafted for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8.

Owned by Ward, Bound for Nowhere was a two-time stakes winner last season with victories in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland and the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs. The bay son of The Factor was a close second in this year’s Shakertown last time out, where he set a swift pace and was a neck behind Imprimis.

“He ran really big at Keeneland coming off a layoff,” Ward said. “He was a bit compromised; he was in front with fast early fractions, which isn’t really his style.”
Ward entered Bound for Nowhere against stakes company on both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness undercards but scratched both times.

“The race at Pimlico [Jim McKay Turf Sprint] looked ideal but he worked in :58 five days out from the race which was a little quick of a workout,” Ward said.

Bound for Nowhere was purchased by Gatewood Bell’s Cromwell Bloodstock at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015 for $310,000. He is out of the Alydeed broodmare Fancy Deed who is a half to 2007 Champion Sprinter Midnight Lute.

Wes Welker and Elizabeth Kumin’s seasoned veteran Undrafted will look for a repeat victory in the Jaipur after winning the 2014 edition of the race when it was a Grade 3. At age 9, the gelded son of Purim has shown capability of being competitive at a high level having finished fourth, beaten four lengths, in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in his only start this season. The nine-time winning millionaire’s biggest career highlight came in 2015 when he took the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

“He’s an ageless horse and has had success in the Japiur a few years back,” Ward said.

Other possible contenders for the Jaipur include World of Trouble and Dirty.

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Ward sends pair of first time starters to Tremont Trial D

A field of seven juveniles have been assembled for the final Tremont Trial, which is carded as the first race on Saturday afternoon.

Known for having a knack with first time starters, trainer Wesley Ward sends a pair of juveniles, Karak and No Nay Maybe, for their career debuts in the 5 ½ furlong event over the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.

Purchased by Breeze Easy for $365,000 from the Ocala Breeders Sales Company’s Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in March, Karak is a daughter of first crop sire Karakontie and is out of the Mujadil broodmare Down the Well.

Ward is hoping to experience déjà vu with the first time starter. Last year, Ward and Breeze Easy teamed up with Shang Shang Shang – a $200,000 purchase from last year’s OBS March Sale – who graduated first out at Keeneland and from there won the Group 2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot in the summer.

“She’s a very beautiful filly,” Ward said. “She’s by a first-year sire with a great pedigree and she shows an affinity for grass. The owners were successful last year with Shang Shang Shang and we’re just looking to duplicate that purchase at the sale. Hopefully history can repeat itself.”

Karak will emerge from post three under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

To the outside of Karak is No Nay Maybe, who is by second-crop sire No Nay Never who also was trained by Ward. Owned by Andrew Farm and Mrs. Charlie O’Connor, No Nay Maybe will be piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

“He’s a nice horse and even nicer since we gelded him,” Ward said. “He’s had ample works, he’s fit and he’s worked well at the gate and has gone through everything we needed to do with him. He has ‘Johnny V’ up which certainly is a positive.”

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Abreu looking to get Stellar Agent back on track in Saturday allowance

Two-time graded stakes placed sophomore filly Stellar Agent will seek her first triumph against winners in a Saturday allowance, going six furlongs over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Trained by Jorge Abreu, the bay daughter of More Than Ready graduated first out at Saratoga going five and a half furlongs and went on to finish third behind Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs. Both starts were contested over yielding turf courses.

In her 2019 debut, Stellar Agent was last of 11 in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs as the post time second choice.

“She really ran well in the Breeders’ Cup and the race at Tampa was a bit of a disaster,” Abreu said. “I sent her here earlier and she got a little sick on me, so I’m cutting her back in distance to get her going again. She won going five and a half at Saratoga, so I don’t think three-quarters will be an issue for her. She’s healthy, so we’re just getting her back on track. I’m looking forward to running her in a stake at Saratoga.”

Stellar Agent is owned by Madaket Stables in partnership with Steve Layman, Martin Scheinman and Roger Kaplan. She was purchased by BSW Bloodstock partner Liz Crow for $150,000 from the Ocala Breeders Sales Company’s Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale last April and is the first progeny out of the Medaglia d’Oro broodmare Lawn Party.

Abreu also sends out Moravia who makes her second start in North America.
Other notable contenders lining up for the salty allowance event are five-time stakes placed Chelsea Cloisters for trainer Wesley Ward, while trainer Chad Brown entered Gulfstream Park maiden winner Positive Skew for owner Klaravich Stables.

Abreu went on to speak of Queen of Beas, who was a recent third in her graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs and is targeting the Grade 1, $700,000 Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day.

“She’s doing great, she’ll have one more breeze this weekend and we’ll take it from there,” Abreu said. “So far, she’s going into the race really well.”

Owned by Kingsport Farm, Queen of Beas broke her maiden at second asking over a fast main track at Gulfstream Park before defeating winners over the South Florida oval.

The Acorn is also likely to attract Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress.

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Cassidy weighing Grade 1 Manhattan and Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup for Epical

When trainer Jim Cassidy shipped graded stakes winner Epical east from California to make a start in the Grade 1 Man o’ War in which he ran fifth, it wasn’t a one and done deal for the connections with the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt remaining in New York following the race.

Epical breezed four furlongs in 47.24 seconds on Wednesday on the Belmont the main track and Cassidy said the bay gelding is in good order.

“He’s doing really well,” said Cassidy. “He seems to be fine coming out of the race [Man o’ War] and is continuing to move forward. It was certainly an interesting race to look back on how it developed. You had that Aidan O’Brien’s horse [Hunting Horn] that went out in front setting a fast pace, and we kind of had to track and follow our way. We just hope we don’t run into a situation like that again next.”

With four wins from his last five starts including a Grade 2 victory in the San Luis Rey at Santa Anita Park and a second-place finish, by a neck, in the Grade 2 San Marcos at 1 ¼ miles, Cassidy said he is considering both the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan going 1 ¼ miles on Saturday, June 8 and the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational at 2 miles on Friday, June 7 for Epical’s next start.

“We’re in discussions with our owner [Mr. Deron Pearson], but I would say both options are under consideration,” said Cassidy. “Right now, our owner has some concerns if he’ll be able to handle the two-mile distance. I think he can run all day as well as [jockey] Tyler [Baze] who’s gotten to know him well and says he’s his favorite horse to ride. The only issues he has is at the gate. If he breaks away clean he can run all day.”

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Stall applications for 2019 Saratoga meet due June 4

With the earlier start to the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, NYRA is reminding horsemen that Saratoga stall applications are currently available in the racing office at Belmont Park as well as online at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/stall-application.pdf

The application process closes on Tuesday, June 4.

The 2019 meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will feature 76 stakes across 40 racing days, highlighted by the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney as the anchors of two of the biggest racing days in North America.

The summer meet, which features $20.85 million in total stakes purses, will run from Opening Day on Thursday, July 11 through Labor Day, September 2. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays.