Belmont Park Notes 6/27

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

• Diversify to join Old Friends; Catholic Boy and Rock my Love pointed for graded stakes action
• Varenka remains possible for G1 Belmont Oaks; English Bee and He’s No Lemon hoping for G1 Belmont Derby invites
• Olendon set for North American debut in G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational
• Strike Power could put charge into G1 Vanderbilt Handicap; Nerud appearance not ruled out yet
• Jerkens stable flourishing ahead of Stars & Stripes Racing Festival
• Endorsed could target G1 Allen Jerkens following Sunday allowance win
• Olympico possible for G2 Bowling Green
• White Flag set to fly at Woodbine; Pure Sensation dashing to Parx
• European invader Rockemperor possible for G1 Belmont Derby
• Promises Fulfilled seeks more stakes action in New York in G2 John A. Nerud
• All systems go for Nicodemus in G2 John A. Nerud

ELMONT, N.Y. – Ralph and Lauren Evans’ recently retired two-time Grade 1 winning New York-bred Diversify is on his way to Old Friends Equine, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited facility in Kentucky.

Originally trained by the late Rick Violette, Jr., who died in October 2018, Diversify was transferred to the care of Jonathan Thomas to prepare for his 2019 campaign. After incurring a suspensory injury earlier this month, the decision was made to retire the $1.9 million earner.

Old Friends was created in 2003 by Michael Blowen, a former movie critic for the Boston Globe and lifelong racing fan, who oversees the farm in Georgetown, Kentucky where fans are welcome to interact and visit with retired stars of racing.

“Michael Blowen and Mr. Evans got together and the decision was made for him to go to Old Friends and live out his life in the spotlight,” said Thomas. “It’s a tremendous facility and Mr. Blowen has done incredible things with allowing fans to have access to these star horses. I think it’s also really good for the horses. Diversify is a horse that loves attention and being acknowledged. This is the beginning of a new story for him.”

Old Friends also has a facility in Cabin Creek, in Greenfield Center in upstate New York, which is home to a number of retired New York stars including 1996 Travers winner Will’s Way.

Blowen said he is hoping to launch a second New York facility soon within ten minutes of downtown Saratoga Springs, which could be headlined by Diversify who was a wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Handicap last year at Saratoga Race Course.

“If we can get the money together, I would like to name the location after Rick Violette the way we named the farm in Greenfield Center at Cabin Creek after Bobby Frankel. Rick and I used to talk about aftercare all the time and he was an avid supporter of looking after horses when they were done racing. It would be an honor to name the new place after him,” said Blowen “We already have King Kreesa, Lubash and Kharafa and of course Commentator. We have all these great New York-breds and it will be so great to show them off.”

Diversify, voted the 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year, will leave for Kentucky on Thursday afternoon.

“If I can’t get a horse to the racetrack healthy and sound, my ultimate job is to make sure that the horse retires sound and can go live out his life the right way,” said Thomas. “This game is cool for a lot of reasons but the fact that someone is doing this kind of thing with these horses is awesome. In what other sport can you go and shake hands with the stars?”

For more information on Old Friends, visit https://www.oldfriendsequine.org.

Thomas has a busy two weeks ahead with stable star Catholic Boy pointed to the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban on July 6 as part of the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival, and newcomer Rock my Love making her North American debut in the Grade 2, $175,000 Dance Smartly, at Woodbine Racetrack

Catholic Boy, a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt, breezed five furlongs on the Belmont main track on Sunday in a rapid 58.28 seconds.

The 4-year-old son of More Than Ready, who won the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on dirt and the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on turf last year, made his 2019 debut in the Grade 2 Dixie on May 18 at Pimlico, winning by a half-length.

“That was one of those moves I have not seen him do that before. I’ve not had a horse under my immediate care as a trainer do what he did with the swiftness of the breeze, but also in the way that he did it,” said Thomas. “My first instinct is that it was way too fast, but when I went back and watched the video and most importantly when I saw him back in the barn and how quickly he recovered I realized that he just got into a big rhythm and breezed well.

“After a few days to digest it, it just looked like a good horse that breezed really well,” added Thomas. “It looks like he got over the main track at Belmont really well. It will be his first time running over it.”

A former assistant to Todd Pletcher, Thomas said he recognized the work as the quality of a superior racehorse.

“There are many things to take away from working for Todd, but one of them is when you see those good horses doing well they tend to breeze really well. Hopefully, that’s what we’re dealing with here, said Thomas.

Rock my Love, a German-bred daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, captured the Group 3 Preis der Winterkonigin in October 2017 to cap off an undefeated juvenile campaign for then conditioner Markus Klug.

Transferred to the care of Frederic Head for her sophomore season, Rock my Love was winless in four stars, missing by just three-quarters of a length in the Group 2 Shadwell Prix de la Nonette in August.

Campaigned by the Augustin Stable of George Strawbridge, Rock my Love has trained steadily into her 4-year-old debut for Thomas.

“We were fortunate that Mr. Strawbridge asked us to take her. She’s a filly with a beautiful body of work underneath her in Europe,” said Thomas. “We’ve had her for about five months and she’s acclimated well and seems to be a filly of quality.”

She will make her debut in the Dance Smartly, a 1 ¼-mile test on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on Queen’s Plate Day Saturday at Woodbine.

“It’s a little tricky trying to spot her as I’m thinking the mile races are going to be a bit quick for her this time of year on very firm ground and I’m not certain she’s a real marathon filly either, so the mile and a quarter up at Woodbine should suit her,” said Thomas.

Flavien Prat will pilot Rock my Love from the outside post in a field of eight. Given her good form on softer ground, Thomas said he would welcome a little rain at the Etobicoke, Ontario oval.

“We’re looking for a nice, quiet comeback. We’re not expecting to go up there and grab the brass ring so to speak, but we’re hoping for a good showing,” said Thomas. “Not to put a damper on a big day like that, but if it happened to rain it wouldn’t bother us in the least.”

* * *
Varenka remains possible for G1 Belmont Oaks; English Bee and He’s No Lemon hoping for G1 Belmont Derby invites

Augustin Stable’s Varenka could be targeting the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational on Stars & Stripes Day on July 6 at Belmont Park, though trainer Graham Motion said he would take some more time before confirming her involvement.

Varenka is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Regret on June 15 at Churchill Downs. Should she run in the Belmont Oaks, the first leg of NYRA’s Turf Tiara, it would mark a quick turnaround for the Ghostzapper filly, whose previous shortest break for races was a full month between running second in the PG Johnson on August 30 at Saratoga Race Course and second in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on September 30 at Belmont

“I’m definitely tempted to go there,” Motion said about the Belmont Oaks, which will be contested at 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. “I was pretty happy with how she came out of her last race. My only reservation would be that she is coming back a little quick in three weeks. So, I’m going to give it another 24 hours or so before I commit.”

Varenka has one win and two runner-up efforts in three starts at 1 1/16 miles and last out rallied from seventh before finishing on the board in the 1 1/8-mile Regret. Motion said the Belmont Oaks distance is less of a concern than the time between races.

“I think we’re leading that way. I think it would suit her,” Motion said.
As part of the new Turf Triple series, the Turf Tiara opens with the 2,000-meter Belmont Oaks that will be broadcast live on NBC.

The Turf Tiara will continue August 2 at Saratoga with the inaugural $750,000 Saratoga Oaks, held at 1 3/16-miles (1,900 meters) on the Saratoga lawn and broadcast live nationally on FS2, kicking off Whitney weekend festivities.

The final jewel will be the first-ever $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks slated for September 7 at Belmont, will be contested at 1 3/8-miles (2,200 meters) on the turf, and aired live on NBC, as part of an action-packed weekend of racing to raise the curtain on the Belmont fall meet.

Varekna has previously run twice at Belmont, finishing second to Newspaperofrecord in the Miss Grillo and breaking her maiden at fifth asking on May 11.

Motion could have two contenders in the other half of the Turf Triple with English Bee and He’s No Lemon possibilities for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-old males.

Like the Belmont Oaks, the Belmont Derby will be contested at 1 ¼ miles on the inner turf.

“I would like to run both of them,” Motion said. “English Bee has done enough to warrant taking a shot in there, especially if he handles the mile and a quarter. He’s No Lemon is a good horse even though he doesn’t have the stakes experience. He’s a horse who I’ve always liked a lot and can appreciate the mile and a quarter. So, I’d like to run them both, I’m just not sure if they are going to get in or not.”

Calumet Farm’s English Bee has finished on the board in five of his six career starts, including his first stakes win last out with a half-length score over Real News in the one-mile James W. Murphy on May 18 at Pimlico that earned the English Channel colt a personal-best 85 Beyer.

“He hasn’t run that much to be honest,” Motion said. “He had that one disappointing race in Tampa [fifth in the Columbia on March 9] where he got into a little bit of trouble at the quarter-pole and it kind of cost him, though it turned out to be a pretty solid race with the horses who came out of it. He’s a cool horse, and we’d like to take a shot at it with him.”

He’s No Lemon, owned by Alex Campbell, Jr., is still looking to make his first stakes appearance after posting a 1-1-2 record in six career starts, including second by a nose to Pillar Mountain in a 1 3/8-mile optional claimer on June 6 as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The gelded son of Lemon Drop Kid’s maiden-breaking win also came at 1 3/8 miles when he won at fourth asking on February 3 at Tampa.

“I think he’s going to be stakes caliber. He ran a competitive race last time against older horses and was just a little unlucky,” Motion said.

* * *
Olendon set for North American debut in G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational

Wonder Stables’ Olendon, trained by Pascal Bary, will make her North American debut in the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, first leg of the Turf Tiara, during the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival.

Last out, the Le Havre filly finished second behind well-regarded Siyarafina in the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary, a 1 1/4-mile test for sophomore fillies over good to soft going at Longchamp in France.

“Olendon is a nice chestnut filly. She ran very well in the Prix St. Alary. She accelerated well and it was a great performance,” said Bary.

In April, Olendon captured the Prix Finlande for three-year-olds over nine furlongs by three quarters of a length. Bary said the filly has come out of her recent effort in good order and is training well.

“She has galloped last Saturday left handed and she did very well. She doesn’t need to work a lot,” said Bary.

Olendon, a graduate of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, will acquire the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the Belmont Oaks. The filly is slated to arrive at Belmont on Saturday morning.

* * *
Strike Power could put charge into G1 Vanderbilt Handicap; Nerud appearance not ruled out yet

Strike Power, nominated to the Grade 2, $300,000 John A. Nerud on Stars & Stripes Day July 6, could instead be targeting the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Mark Hennig said.

No decision has been made yet for Courtlandt Farms’ Strike Power, who is coming off back-to-back triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in his first two starts of his 4-year-old campaign, including a career-high 102 in running second to Catalina Cruiser in the Grade 2 True North on June 7.

The John A. Nerud, run previously as the Belmont Sprint Championship, will be contested at seven-furlongs and is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park. The Vanderbilt is six furlongs.

Strike Power started his 3-year-old year with a win in the Grade 3 Swale in February 2018 at Gulfstream and ran second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and eighth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby while initially on the Kentucky Derby trail.
After running out of the money in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and Grade 3 Amsterdam, Strike Power tried turf in the one-mile Better Talk Now in August at the Spa.

Following throat surgery during his time off, Strike Power returned to racing on April 25 and bested an eight-horse optional claimer field by five lengths at Gulfstream. He returned to stakes company on a fast track in the True North and could make his first Grade 1 appearance since the Florida Derby if Hennig runs the Speightstown colt in the Vanderbilt.

“We’ve been waiting thinking we could run in the Vanderbilt,” Hennig said. “I’ll keep my eye on it. I’m not going to rule it [Nerud] out completely at this point. We took him off the turf and he’s responded well to it this year.”

Hennig added that On the Town will not be running in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational. The daughter of More Than Ready has one victory and three runner-up finishes in six career starts as she awaits her first stakes race.

“She’s not going to make the Oaks; she popped a little splint that we have to take care of,” Hennig said.

* * *
Jerkens stable flourishing ahead of Stars & Stripes Racing Festival

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has won three stakes this season, all out of town, including a victory in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland with Delta Prince, and will look to add to that tally over the coming weeks.

The veteran conditioner will be represented by millionaire Holy Helena in the Grade 2, $175,000 Dance Smartly at Woodbine on Saturday as part of a lucrative undercard on the track’s signature Queen’s Plate Festival.

In 2017, the Ontario-bred filly captured the Queen’s Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, en route to Sovereign Award honors as 3-year-old filly in her native land.

She finished fourth in last year’s Dance Smartly and will leave from the inside post in Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile test under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

“We shipped her up there last week to get her situated with Mike Doyle. We’ve done that the past few years,” said Jerkens. “They’re expecting rain so I hope it doesn’t soften it up too much. She doesn’t like it soft. She’s doing very well right now.”

Mihos, a 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince owned by Centennial Farms who captured the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream in January, is likely to return to action in the Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer – a one-turn mile for sophomores on July 6 as part of the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival.

Mihos, off since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Holy Bull in February at Gulfstream, worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 in company with well-regarded 4-year-old stablemate Candygram on the Belmont main Wednesday.

“He’s come to hand quickly. His last two works have been really good. We’re leaning a lot more towards running than we were a week ago,” said Jerkens. “He worked with Candygram yesterday and got the better of him and that’s a 3-year-old working against an older horse. It was a good move, no question.”

Candygram, a Candy Ride colt also owned by Centennial Farms, has won back-to-back allowance races and is nominated to the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 State Dinner on July 7, Closing Day.

“Candygram is doing good. I’m not sure if we’ll run there or in a ‘three other than’ yet, but we’re training him like he’ll start in the State Dinner,” said Jerkens.

Centennial Farms flag bearers Preservationist and Grade 2 Marathon winner Rocketry are under consideration for the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban at 10 furlongs on the Belmont main.

A four-time winner from seven starts, Preservationist would be making his stakes debut off of an impressive optional claiming score last out that earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Preservationist is probably going to take a shot at the Suburban if it looks like its a small field,” said Jerkens. “I have to keep my fingers crossed. He’s not had a lot of continuity in his career He ran well off a long layoff, it was very impressive.”

The 6-year-old son of Arch breezed seven furlongs in 1:28.40 on the Belmont dirt training track on Wednesday. The lightly-raced bay, on a two-race win streak, has been close to a quick pace in each of his last two outings under regular pilot Junior Alvarado.

“I would imagine going a mile and a quarter he’d be even closer. Junior has good hands and a good sense of pace,” said Jerkens.

Long distance specialist Rocketry, a 5-year-old son of Hard Spun, is a five-time winner from 19 starts with more than $600,000 in purse earnings. Last out, he finished a closing second to Marconi in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Woodford Reserve at 1 1/2-miles.

“Rocketry isn’t out of the question if it’s a small field. A mile and a quarter would seem like a sprint for him, but you never know how the track will be playing,” said Jerkens. “Sometimes when it’s hot, the track here plays for closers and he’ll be running at the end. Whether it’s good enough to get something in there I don’t know, but we’ll give it a try. There’s not much else for him. As long as he’s sharp enough, this is the strongest he’s been in his life and that’s the time to take a shot at these races.”

Jerkens also said that June 16 allowance winner Timber Ghost developed a minor issue and will be on the shelf.

“He was injured since he ran last and will be out indefinitely,” said Jerkens.

* * *
Endorsed could target G1 Allen Jerkens following Sunday allowance win

The long layoff was no issue for Godolphin’s Endorsed, who found the winner’s circle in his first start since the Grade 1 Champagne on October 6 at Belmont Park when taking a first level allowance race over the main track on Sunday afternoon.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the bay son of Medaglia d’Oro will look ahead to the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy on August 24 at Saratoga.

Endorsed had trained with McLaughlin’s string of horses at Greentree Training Center at Saratoga during the early summer.

“He’s a very valuable horse and is very well bred,” McLaughlin said. “My team at Greentree has done a great job with him. He’s out of a Grade 1 winner [Dance Card] and just a really nice horse. It was great to get him back to the races. Now we can look for bigger and better things moving forward. Obviously, the Allen Jerkens would be a huge race for him since it’s a Grade 1, but we’ll see how he comes out of it.”

Endorsed made his career debut a winning one when graduating by a neck over the main track at Saratoga on August 18 defeating next out winners Borracho and Principled. His dam Dance Card won the Grade 1 Gazelle and was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 2013 during her racing career.

* * *
Olympico possible for G2 Bowling Green

Owner Michael Dubb said the Grade 2, $350,000 Bowling Green could be next on the table for graded stakes winner Olympico following a troubled seventh in the Grade 1 Manhattan last out.

The French-bred son of Rajsaman began his career in his native France, where he won four races but never at stakes caliber. He made his North American debut for his current connections when taking the Grade 3 Fort Marcy over the winner turf at Belmont Park on May 4 at 18-1. He is trained by Chad Brown and owned by Dubb in partnership with Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Bethlehem Stables.

“I would imagine that would be our next target,” Dubb said. “He’s been good. He had a difficult trip in the Manhattan. We really like the horse so we’re going to draw a line through the last race.”

Since his last start, Olympico has recorded one serious work, breezing over the turf at Saratoga on Monday in 50.29 seconds.

* * *
White Flag set to fly at Woodbine; Pure Sensation dashing to Parx

Robert S. Evans’ homebred White Flag will look to break through at the graded level in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Highlander at Woodbine.

The 5-year-old War Front bay, trained by Christophe Clement, boasts a record of 5-2-3 from 14 starts. He picked up his first stakes score in September 2017 in the Allied Forces at six furlongs over the Belmont turf and followed up with a second stakes score last season in the Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct Racetrack.

He finished third in the 2017 Grade 2 Nearctic in his lone trip to Woodbine and arrives at Saturday’s six-furlong sprint from a fourth in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf at one mile on the Gulfstream turf where he set the pace before surrendering the lead late in the lane.

“White Flag is training well and the owner is excited about competing in the Grade 1 at Woodbine,” said Clement. “I think he will like the long stretch there as he can settle and wait to make his run. Javier Castellano is a great rider and does not make many mistakes.”

Patricia Generazio’s homebred Pure Sensation breezed four furlongs in 48.48 seconds on the Belmont main on Wednesday. The 8-year-old Zensational grey is undefeated in two starts in 2019, including a scored in the Governor’s Cup at Penn National, and is pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Parx Dash slated for July 6.

“We take it one race at a time with him. He is training very well. He’s going to try for the Parx Dash next,” said Clement.

* * *
European invader Rockemperor possible for G1 Belmont Derby

Since finishing sixth in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] at Chantilly Racecourse on June 2, Rockemperor has transferred to the barn of trainer Chad Brown and could possibly make his North American debut in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational – the first leg of the newly minted Turf Trinity series and the main event on Belmont Park’s Stars & Stripes Racing Festival on July 6.

The Irish-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor was acquired by BDW Bloodstock’s Bradley Weisbord on behalf of new ownership group Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Bethlehem Stables prior to his effort in the French Derby, where he stalked the pace between horses, finishing eight lengths behind eventual winner Sottsass – a half-brother to defending Champion Grass Filly Sistercharlie.

Rockemperor finished ahead of Sottsass in his prior start, when he was a close second in the Group 3 Prix la Force on April 7 at Longchamp

“He got sandwiched at the start and it made him a bit rank,” Weisbord said. “He could have maybe been third or fourth otherwise and we actually beat the winner of that race in the race before.”

Since joining Brown’s barn, Rockemperor has recorded one breeze when covering a half-mile in 50.80 seconds over the Belmont Park inner turf in company with Grade 1 Arlington Million winner Robert Bruce.

“Right now, we’re pointing for the Belmont Derby,” Weisbord said. “He breezed last weekend for Chad. [Hall of Fame jockey] John Velazquez worked him and will have the mount if he ends up running. He is going to breeze again on the turf and Chad will make the final decision on whether or not he does run.”

Should Rockemperor skip the Belmont Derby, he could target the following leg of the Turf Trinity – the $1 million Saratoga Derby on August 4, which precedes the $1 million Jockey Club Derby on September 7 at Belmont Park in the series.

“This series is why we bought the horse,” Weisbord said. “Mike Dubb and Sol Kumin [of Madaket Stables] are big supporters of New York racing and we had the deal made prior to the French Derby. He’ll have to impress Chad enough for us to run. We always like to run there. We’re excited to see him breeze this weekend.”

* * *
Promises Fulfilled seeks more stakes action in New York in G2 John A. Nerud

Trainer Dale Romans has been running Promises Fulfilled against some of the heaviest of hitters in his division but will give the son of Shackleford slight class relief in the Grade 2, $300,000 John A. Nerud as part of the Stars and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont July 6.

Robert Baron’s 4-year-old chestnut colt was fourth beaten 4 ¼ lengths behind Mitole in the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap on June 8 and was never worse than fourth in three starts this year, all of which were against Grade 1 company.

His 2019 debut was a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse on March 30 before running third in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“He’s been training fine since the Met Mile, this is why we’re coming,” Romans said. “There will be some good horses in there but a little lighter than what he’s been up against. I thought he ran well last time but he’ll get some class relief in here.”

Promises Fulfilled last found the winner’s circle when taking the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy last summer at Saratoga in wire-to-wire fashion. His preceding effort was a victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam, registering a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred in Kentucky by David Jacobs, Promises Fulfilled was purchased by Romans at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2017 for a frugal $37,000. The four-time graded stakes winner’s career earnings have amassed over $1.2 million in 14 lifetime starts.

* * *
All systems go for Nicodemus in G2 John A. Nerud

Everything’s Cricket Racing and Lawrence Goichman’s graded stakes winner Nicodemus is still on track for the Grade 2, $300,000 John A. Nerud on Saturday, July 6.

Trained by Linda Rice, the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride was a close fourth in the Grade 2 True North on June 7 at Belmont Park last time out finishing 2 ½ lengths behind Catalina Cruiser before a narrow victory in the Grade Westchester on May 4 at the Elmont oval, where he earned a career best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rice also had Expert nominated for the Grade 2, $700,000 Suburban, but stated that the 4-year-old Point Given bay will not run. Owned by All In the Family Racing, Expert was claimed by Rice at Aqueduct in February and won three straight for Rice before a runner-up effort behind Preservationist in a May 23 allowance event over a sloppy main track at Belmont Park

“He’s been training great and we’re excited about the next race,” Rice said of Nicodemus. “Jose Ortiz is going to ride him. Expert we’ve had to stop on so he won’t make the Suburban.”

Nicodemus was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm and is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Leah’s Secret.

Rice also spoke of Grade 1-winner Voodoo Song who is set to make his comeback in the Grade 3, $150,000 Forbidden Apple on opening weekend at Saratoga. The Barry Schwartz-owned son of English Channel has not raced since finishing 10th in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile last October at Keeneland. He won the Grade 1 Fourstardave at The Spa two start prior to his last effort.

“Voodoo Song is going in the Forbidden Apple at Saratoga,” Rice said. “He won the Forbidden Apple last year so there’s a lot of pressure on us! Last year when he won it we had a couple of allowance races and the [Grade 3] Poker under his belt but this time it’ll be off the layoff, but we’re hopeful.”

A winner of eight of his 18 career starts, Voodoo Song was third in last year’s Grade 3 Poker and was also a winner of the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga as a 3-year-old. He was bred in New York by Stonewall Farm and is out of the stakes winning Unbridled’s Song broodmare Mystic Chant.