Belmont Stakes Recaps: Grade 1 Stephens, Jaipur & Met Mile

Posted On 12 Jun 2023

Arabian Lion roars to victory in G1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun

By NYRA Press Office

ELMONT N.Y. – Zedan Racing Stables’ Arabian Lion, an impressive two-turn stakes winner in his prior start, handled the cutback to sprinting with aplomb and became a Grade 1 winner in the process with a decisive 1 3/4-length triumph in Saturday’s $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun at Belmont Park.

The 39th running of the seven-furlong Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds was the fifth of nine graded-stakes and second of six Grade 1 events worth a total of $5.25 million in purses on a 13-race program highlighted by the 155th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Ridden by John Velazquez for Bob Baffert, both members of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame, Arabian Lion covered the distance in 1:21.70 over a fast main track to earn his second straight win following a four-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton May 20 at Pimlico on the undercard of the Grade 1 Preakness.

It was the third Woody Stephens victory for Baffert, following American Anthem in 2017 and Bayern in 2014. Velazquez previously won the Woody Stephens aboard Munnings in 2009. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Arabian Lion returned $6.70 for a $2 win bet.

“This horse, I’ve always been so high on, he’s just been slow to come around,” Baffert said. “[Owner] Amr Zedan, he let me be patient with him and now we’re getting rewarded with the way he ran.”

Arabian Lion broke sharply under Velazquez, who was content to drop back and save ground inside when outrun to the lead by Federal Judge, undefeated in two previous starts, and making his stakes debut. Federal Judge and jockey Flavien Prat cruised through a quarter-mile in 22.65 seconds pressed to his outside by multiple stakes-winner Drew’s Gold, sporting a perfect 4-0 record.

The half went in 45.64 with Federal Judge still in front and chased by Drew’s Gold with Gilmore, placed in back-to-back graded stakes, having joined the closest pursuit and Velazquez biding his time along the rail. Federal Judge rounded the turn on the lead and straightened for home with Drew’s Gold moving into a challenging position.

“He broke well,” Velazquez said. “He got outrun right away so I sat behind the leaders. When I asked him to do it down the lane, he responded right away. He is a nice horse.”

Behind the top two, Velazquez tipped Arabian Lion off the rail into the four path and set his colt down for a drive to wire, surging to the lead in mid-stretch and sprinting clear for his second consecutive victory and third from seven starts. Drew’s Gold finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Gilmore, with Federal Judge another 7 1/4 lengths back in fourth.

Gun Pilot, General Jim, Victory Formation, Fort Warren, Dark Vector and Arman completed the order of finish. New York Thunder, Harrodsburg [who got loose in the paddock] and Fort Bragg were scratched.

“He hopped a little at the start,” Drew’s Gold jockey Jose Gomez said. “Other than that, he got his feet underneath him pretty quickly and I got a pretty clear trip. I tried to wait as long as I could, but that 3 horse [Arabian Lion] just blew right past us.”

Bred in Kentucky by Bonne Chance Farm, Arabian Lion is a chestnut son of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, also trained by Baffert. Out of the Distorted Humor mare Unbound, Arabian Lion fetched $600,000 as a 2-year-old in training last April, and the $220,000 winner’s share of the purse nearly doubled his lifetime earnings to $437,600.

Arabian Lion broke his maiden at first asking last October at Santa Anita and was fifth as the favorite behind Practical Joke in his stakes debut, the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, third time out. He began this year running fourth in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis in February and second in the Grade 3 Lexington on April 15, each of his last four races coming at 1 1/16 miles.

The Sir Barton proved to be a breakthrough race for Arabian Lion, who led every step of the way to win by four lengths in 1:41.13 and be put briefly under consideration for the Belmont.

“I could see the race didn’t take much out of him,” Baffert said. “He had two easy works. In the paddock, I could tell he was just [doing well]. He’s learning, too. He sat behind horses today, so he’s figuring it out.”

Baffert said the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 22 at Monmouth Park could be a logical next target for Arabian Lion.

“He’s a Haskell contender, along with Arabian Knight,” he said. “One of the Arabians will be there.”

Baffert did not rule out a return to New York for Saratoga’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26.

“That’s so far off right now. We have other horses that are just coming back. We got [Grade 1 winner] Cave Rock and some other good ones coming back,” he said. “Right now, I’m just going to enjoy this Grade 1 victory. It’s great to be back here. Nothing like winning in New York. It means so much to the horse and the connections and I feel great about it.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont with an 11-race card featuring the $150,000 Jersey Girl for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs on the main track in Race 5 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Wonder Again for sophomore fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, 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 shines bright in G1 Jaipur triumph

By Mary Eddy

ELMONT, N.Y. – Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ Caravel blitzed to a three-quarter-length victory from off the pace under Tyler Gaffalione to land her second Grade 1 score, besting males in Saturday’s $400,000 Jaipur, a six-furlong Widener turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont Park.

For her Jaipur victory, the Brad Cox-trained Caravel was awarded a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park, where she could vie for a title defense after upsetting last year’s edition at 42-1 odds.

Caravel validated a decision made by her connections to skip a trip to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 King’s Stand to be held later this month, a decision Cox said was made with her win in the Grade 3 Intercontinental here last year in mind.

“The owners called an audible and I was good with it. I was totally on board with it,” Cox said. “We hadn’t faced the boys over this course but she ran well in the Intercontinental. She showed up and ran a big one today.”

The Jaipur marked Caravel’s third career victory against her male counterparts, adding to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Shakertown two starts back in April at Keeneland. The popular daughter of Mizzen Mast earned $220,000 in victory, boosting her total career purse earnings near the $2 million mark at $1,897,577.

Sent to post as the 5-2 favorite, Caravel exited post 11 in the 14-horse field and was among the frontrunners as Nothing Better dashed to the lead with Go Bears Go and Caravel on even terms for second. Casa Creed, who attempted to win this event for a third consecutive year, enjoyed a mid-pack stalking trip under Luis Saez while Go Bears Go attempted in vein to get the jump on Caravel and advance up the rail after an opening quarter-mile in 22.19 seconds over the firm going.

Gaffalione remained collected aboard Caravel and kept her two-wide into the turn while Nothing Better toiled on the front end and Go Bears Go faded on the inside with the half-mile in 44.80. Caravel, under a strong hand ride, took charge at the top of the lane and dug in gamely at the eighth pole as Casa Creed gained momentum down the center of the course to the inside of a rallying Big Invasion. But both horses were left with too much to do and could not reel in a runaway Caravel, who completed the course in 1:07.93.

Big Invasion found his best stride late to land runner-up honors by a neck over Casa Creed with Dr. Zempf rounding out the superfecta. Nothing Better, Ice Chocolat, Arrest Me Red, Front Run the Fed, Yes and Yes, Thin White Duke, Coppola, Air Force Red, Go Bears Go and Surprise Boss completed the order of finish. Mid Day Image and also-eligible Our Shot were scratched.

The Jaipur marked the second Grade 1 win of the weekend for Gaffalione, who piloted Pretty Mischievous to a win in the Acorn on Friday at Belmont. It also marked the 20th career Grade 1 for the 28-year-old rider.

Gaffalione said Caravel gave him few nervous moments throughout.

“Coming from the outside, I wanted to be a little bit aggressive and get her into a forward position,” said Gaffalione. “She put me where I wanted to be and she travelled great, in hand. Coming into the stretch, I had so much confidence and she put them away nicely. It was nice to sit off because we know for sure for the future that she can do that.

Cox, who enjoyed his first career Jaipur victory, said winning another Breeders’ Cup with Caravel would be special.

“She never ceases to amaze me. She is absolutely amazing,” said Cox. “She just never lets you down. She is spot on. I’m very proud of her. This is two Grade 1s for her against the boys. I don’t think I’ve ever had a filly to beat the boys. The Breeders’ Cup is our main target. There are some races up at Saratoga but I’m not sure yet how many more times we would need to run prior to the Breeders Cup. We’ll just try to keep her happy and healthy.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth Merryman, Caravel became the second female horse to win the Jaipur, along with 2020 victress Oleksandra. Caravel now boasts a lifetime record of 23-15-0-3, with 13 total stakes triumphs. She returned $7.80 for a $2 win ticket.

The Christophe Clement-trained Big Invasion, piloted by Joel Rosario, earned his first Grade 1 placing, adding to a resume that includes a win in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation last summer at Saratoga.

Rosario said Big Invasion was gave his best effort behind a resolute Caravel.

“He did everything I asked him to do, the horse in front was just tough to beat,” Rosario said. “He gave me his all. He gave me that kick that he always does, he just got beat. The other horse is a nice horse, too.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont with an 11-race card, featuring the $150,000 Astoria in Race 2, the $150,000 Jersey Girl in Race 5, the $150,000 Tremont in Race 9 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Wonder Again in Race 10. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Cody’s Wish much the best in G1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap

By Keith McCalmont

ELMONT, N.Y. – Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Cody’s Wish rallied into contention through the turn under Junior Alvarado and drew off impressively to capture Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, at Belmont Park.

In victory, the 5-year-old Curlin bay provided his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a first win in the one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up, while garnering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Santa Anita Park.

“I thought he had a possibility of being a good horse before we ever ran him. It took us a couple of races to get him going in the right direction and to get him educated enough to where he knew how to use his run. He’s finally figured it out,” said Mott, who saddled the reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power to victory in the Grade 2 True North earlier on the card.

Cody’s Wish was off a step slow from the inside post as Slow Down Andy, Dr. Schivel and Hoist the Gold battled for the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.76 seconds over the fast main track.

The Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Dr. Schivel emerged as the leader down the backstretch, racing between his two rivals, with Repo Rocks and White Abarrio, who stumbled at the break, settled in a stalking position as the half-mile elapsed in 45.86 with Hoist the Gold now holding a narrow advantage.

Cody’s Wish was next-to-last approaching the turn but when Zandon made his run, Alvarado angled the reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-winner off the rail and made a looping rally around his rivals to take command late in the turn. Cody’s Wish continued to find more in the stretch run, securing the 3 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:34.36.

Zandon closed to complete the exacta by a head over White Abarrio with Charge It, Dr. Schivel, Slow Down Andy, Repo Rocks, Hoist the Gold, and Doppelganger rounding out the order of finish.

It was the sixth consecutive score for Cody’s Wish and ninth win in his last 10 for the storybook horse, who added yet another chapter to the fairy tale career he has put together since debuting in June 2021. The impressive run of form includes wins last year in the Grade 3 Westchester here and the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga Race Course ahead of his Breeders’ Cup coup at Keeneland. He entered from a facile score in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 6 in his seasonal debut.

The bay horse was named for Cody Dorman, a teenager with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Dorman visited Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, K.Y. via the Make a Wish program when Cody’s Wish was an unnamed foal and was introduced to the curious colt while touring the farm. The colt showed a profound patience, gentleness and connection with the wheelchair-bound Dorman, touching the hearts of all on the farm and leading Godolphin to name the foal after his new friend.

“It’s as heartwarming for me as it is for the fans watching,” Mott said. “I had a lot of people tell me what a great story this is. For sure, it’s a great story, but it goes along with a good horse.”

Dorman’s father, Kelly, was in attendance for Saturday’s eye-catching score.

“Cody wasn’t here, but he was here. I brought his bowtie [and] had it made special for the Breeders’ Cup. He’s worn it every race since then,” Dorman said. “He’s watching everything on T.V. right now back in our hometown of Columbia, Kentucky with all our family and friends. One thing I can say is we feel the support of everybody, not just our family and friends, but everybody in these stands that’s stopped us [to give well wishes]. We feel that big hand on our backs saying, ‘you’re not going to fall, we’re not going to let you down.’

“It’s magical what he has between him and that horse,” Dorman continued. “He [Cody] said he was going to win, he told me this week. I asked him so many times just to be sure. I asked him so much, he even said, ‘stop’ [laughs]. You can’t doubt him, you can’t doubt the horse, you can’t doubt the power of the love they have between each other. I never dreamed the tallest person I would ever know didn’t have legs like you or I do or a voice as loud as what he does, and he can’t speak like you and I. But he says it all and he walks tall.”

Alvarado, aboard for all of the current six-race win streak, said he knew he had to find his way off the rail.

“At about the half-mile pole, I found my seam, moved behind the heels of horses to get into the clear, then he turned everything on,” Alvarado said. “Then, I just had to get out of his way and let him do his thing. He’s unbelievable.

“The key with him has always been the turn. He picks off a lot of horses there,” Alvarado added. “His ability to move well in the turn helped us today. We took advantage of the big sweeping turn at Belmont and it worked out unbelievably.”

Jeff Drown’s Zandon, piloted by Flavien Prat for trainer Chad Brown, has now hit the board in 5-of-6 Grade 1 attempts, led by a win in last year’s Blue Grass at Keeneland.

“He ran fine. The winner was much the best. He’s a super-impressive horse. I’m real proud of my horse,” Brown said. “He got collared there by a real salty horse in White Abarrio and battled back for second. The fact that he did that proves to me that his best races are probably around two turns moving forward.”

Brown said Zandon could target the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

“That’s probably where I’m going to point him towards,” Brown said. “I’ll talk to the owner Jeff Drown. It’ll be a tough race, but all things considered, if he’s sound, I’ll take my chances.”

Cody’s Wish banked $550,000 in victory while improving his record to 13-9-1-3. He returned $3.30 for a $2 win bet.

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