wagering online for the Belmont Stakes

Winner of last three starts faces tough Acorn field

2005-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Winner of last three starts faces tough Acorn fieldBELMONT, N.Y. - The first Saturday in June last year at Belmont Park brings back bad memories for trainer John Servis, who saw his chance of making racing history fall one length short when Smarty Jones was denied the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown by Birdstone.Servis hopes for more pleasant memories on the first Saturday in June this year. That's when Servis returns to Belmont to saddle Round Pond in the $250,000 Acorn Stakes. The Grade 1 Acorn is run at one mile.Round Pond, a daughter of Awesome Again, has won her last three starts, including the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 15. Never intending to run her in the Kentucky Oaks, Servis was pointing Round Pond to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 20. But upon returning East from Oaklawn, Round Pond got sick and missed some training time, which forced her to miss the Black-Eyed Susan.Since resuming training, Round Pond has put in a solid work tab that includes a five-furlong drill in 57.71 seconds Monday at Philadelphia Park."She's getting better every week,'' Servis said Wednesday from Philadelphia Park. "She's a late May foal and it took a little time for her to come around.''Round Pond didn't debut until February, when she finished third in a six-furlong maiden race at Oaklawn. She caught some traffic trouble that day, but according to Servis, Round Pond galloped out past the field after the wire.Stewart Elliott, who was the regular rider of Smarty Jones, will be here from Monmouth to ride Round Pond.Round Pond will face a solid field that includes Kentucky Oaks runner-up In the Gold, La Troienne winner Seek a Star, Nassau County winner Seeking the Ante, Spinaway and Matron winner Sense of Style, Hollywood Starlet winner Splendid Blended, and Smuggler.Rockport Harbor back in trainingServis reported that Rockport Harbor, his talented 3-year-old colt, galloped Wednesday at Philadelphia Park for the first time since finishing sixth in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 23."He's been training for five days,'' Servis said. "Today we turned him around and galloped him and he went super. We're moving forward.''Rockport Harbor won all four of his starts at 2, but is 0 for 2 this year. His troubles began when he got stepped on during the running of the Remsen last November. Servis was battling problems with Rockport Harbor's right rear foot as well as a blood clot in the colt's neck this spring while trying to get him ready for the Triple Crown. Rockport Harbor finished second in the Rebel Stakes before the Lexington.Regarding the foot, Servis said, "Don't expect that to be an issue the rest of the year.''At the time Rockport Harbor was pulled from the Triple Crown trail, owner Rick Porter and Servis expressed hope he could make races such as the Haskell and Travers later this summer."He usually comes around pretty fast, he's such a big striding horse,'' Servis said. "I don't have any set goals. We'll see how he comes along and choose a spot when we get closer.''

Zito has trained two Kentucky Derby winners

2005-06-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Zito has trained two Kentucky Derby winners
NEW YORK -- At long last, trainer Nick Zito will find out what it's like to be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame instead of attending the ceremony and wondering."I remember just about every one of them, and I just loved it," Zito said Tuesday after being elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. "I just wanted to know how it would feel someday, like everybody else. Anybody that says they don't want to be in there, they're just not human. It's a great, great honor."Zito, voted into the hall in his eighth year of eligibility, will be inducted Aug. 8 at Saratoga Springs, along with three standouts in steeplechase racing -- jockey Thomas Walsh, trainer Sidney Watters Jr. and five-time champion Lonesome Glory.The two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer acknowledged he was frustrated it took so long to get in."But on the other hand, you have to wait your turn, you have to be humble, and do the right thing and try to realize you're in a great game and the game is bigger than everyone," the 57-year-old Zito said on a conference call. "And I'm not ancient, so that's good. I'm just gratified that I did get this great honor."Zito won the Derby with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994, and also won the 1996 Preakness with Louis Quatorze and the 2004 Belmont Stakes with Birdstone, who played the spoiler's role in Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid.Under a new voting format, nominees in four racing categories -- trainer, jockey, contemporary male horse and contemporary female horse -- must receive 75 percent of the votes to be elected. Previously, the top vote-getter in each category was elected. Zito was the only one of 20 nominees who received the necessary votes (of the 163 eligible voters, 127 returned ballots).The steeplechase division is separate, with nominees considered every four years and voting done by a 12-person committee.Despite missing out on a chance to win the Derby with a record-tying five horses or the Preakness with a record-equaling three horses this year, Zito has amassed numbers worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.The New Yorker has saddled 1,410 winners in a career that began in 1972, including 83 in graded stakes races, and they have earned $69,333,163 in purse money.“Anybody that says they don't want to be in there, they're just not human. It's a great, great honor ”— Nick ZitoZito had his best earnings year in 2004, when he saddled 86 winners and totaled nearly $7 million in purse money."The Hall of Fame is based on a career," Zito said. "I always try to philosophize life in general ... My disappointment is in the Derby, of course. I'm human. But I must have had some pretty good days, too. Sure it's disappointment, but nothing tops this."During his 12-year riding career that ended in 1967 at the age of 27, Walsh was fifth in victories with 253, including five consecutive wins in the prestigious Grand National Steeplechase. Walsh currently trains horses and is based at Belmont Park.Watters, 87, led or shared the lead in steeplechase victories six times between 1948 and 1971. He led steeplechase trainers in purse money earned three times. He also was a successful flat-race trainer, handling 1983 3-year-old champion Slew o' Gold and 1970 2-year-old champion Hoist the Flag.Lonesome Glory, with 24 wins in 44 career starts in 1991-1999, is steeplechase racing's leading money-earner with $1.4 million.Nominated jockeys who failed to receive the required votes were Eddie Maple, Craig Perret, Randy Romero, Jose Santos and Ismael (Milo) Valenzuela.Contemporary female nominees were Inside Information, Mom's Command, Open Mind, Silverbulletday and Sky Beauty. Contemporary male nominees were Best Pal, Housebuster, Lure, Manila and Silver Charm.Other trainers on the ballot were Dale Baird, Gary Jones, Mel Stute and John Veitch.Zito started out as a hotwalker for Buddy Jacobson and was an assistant trainer for Johnny Campo and LeRoy Jolley before opening a two-horse stable in 1972. His first Grade 1 winner came in 1986 -- Ride Sally win the Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct. Five years later, he was in the winner's circle with Derby winner Strike the Gold, and racing in the Triple Crown events became Zito's primary goal.Zito has sent out 19 starters in the Derby, 16 in the Preakness and 13 in the Belmont. He also has trained two divisional champions, both fillies -- Storm Song in 1996 and Bird Town in 2003.

Nine Possible for Belmont Stakes

2005-06-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

The field for the 137th Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 11 is slowly taking shape, with at least nine 3-year-olds pointing for the third leg of the Triple Crown. The 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" will be headed by Preakness (gr. I) winner Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo. Afleet Alex was originally scheduled to van to Belmont Park last Saturday following his morning jog. But with a suspected case of strangles being investigated there, trainer Tim Ritchey decided to play it safe and keep the son of Northern Afleet at Pimlico, and work him on Wednesday. He will then decide when to ship to Belmont, depending on whether or not the strangles situation is under control. A case of strangles has also been confirmed at Delaware Park where Preakness runner-up Scrappy T is stabled. Horses stabled at Delaware Park are temporarily restricted from New York Racing Association premises, and if there no other additional cases outside the quarantined barn, horses from Delaware will have to provide a negative culture for strangles from a nasopharyngeal wash or swab taken on or after June 6. Out in California, Giacomo breezed seven furlongs in 1:27 at Hollywood Park May 30, and trainer John Shirreffs indicated they are leaning toward heading back east for the Belmont Stakes. If last Saturday's Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) produces a Belmont starter it likely will not be the runaway winner, Oratory, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable. The colt's connections feel the Belmont comes too close to the Peter Pan, in which Oratory earned a lofty 114 Beyer Speed figure. The two Belmont possibles coming out of the Peter Pan are runner-up Reverberate and the beaten favorite Chekhov, who made a good run on the turn only to flatten out in the stretch. But the $3.3 million Pulpit colt had trouble leaving the gate and put in a strong move, having only a maiden victory to his credit. Reverberate pushed the winner most of the way, and although he was no match for him down the stretch, he did finish well clear of the third horse. Also pointing for the Belmont are the Nick Zito pair of Andromeda's Hero, eighth in the Kentucky Derby, and Pinpoint, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard. Lone Star Derby (gr. III) winner Southern Africa is considered a definite, and Wayne Lukas may run his recent maiden winner A.P. Arrow. Santa Anita Derby (gr. ) winner Buzzards Bay had been considered a definite starter, but trainer Jeff Mullins said, following the colt's :57 2/5 work, that they were passing the race.

Belmont Stakes Will Conclude Dramatic Triple Crown Series

2005-05-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

After the longshot Kentucky Derby victory by Giacomo and the gutsy Preakness victory by Afleet Alex, with what kind of phenomenal performance will the Triple Crown Series end? The 137th Running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (Gr. 1) will provide the answer on Saturday, June 11, 2005, at Belmont Park. Belmont Park opens early on Belmont Stakes Day. Parking gates open at 8:15 a.m. EDT. Admission gates open at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The first race post time is noon EDT. The Belmont Stakes, which will go as the 11th of 13 races, will go to post at 6:38 p.m. EDT. The final race is at 7:50 p.m. EDT.General admission on Belmont Stakes Day is $10; it includes access to Backyard Picnic Area, Trackside Apron area and three interior levels of the grandstand. Clubhouse admission is $20 and includes access to Trackside Apron area and three interior levels. There is no infield access.General Parking on Belmont Stakes Day is $10 and preferred parking is $25. There is no valet parking and no overnight RV parking.

Ecclesiastic Earns First Grade in Jaipur Upset

2005-05-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

Joseph Allen's homebred Ecclesiastic ended a 10-race losing streak when he swept past favored Old Forester in deep stretch to win the $111,600 Jaipur Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a head on the Belmont Park turf. The turn back in distance to seven furlongs seemed to do the trick for the 4-year-old son of Pulpit, who won his first graded stakes race at odds of 8-1 in an evenly matched field of seven. Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez for trainer H. Allen Jerkens, Ecclesiastic completed the seven-eighths in an excellent time of 1:20 3/5. Forester, who shouldered top weight of 124 pounds, settled for second with Edgar Prado aboard after taking command from second choice Gulch Approval a furlong from home. Gulch Approval and Javier Castellano finished third, two lengths behind. It was a half-length back to Trade Fair. Ecclesiastic, who carried 118 pounds Saturday, won for the first time in nine starts on the turf. The bay colt was coming off a solid third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Fort Marcy Handicap (gr. IIIT) on a "good" Aqueduct turf course April 23, where he was 1 3/4 lengths behind Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Better Talk Now. Jerkens took over training duties on Ecclesiastic from Kiaran McLaughlin in April prior to the Fort Marcy. "He was in good shape when we got him," said Jerkens. "We just kind of went along with him. He didn't like Florida that much. He's a lot better up here. I had a feeling that he was sharp right now, and I thought he could get up at seven (furlongs). He's got some speed, he blew out real sharp the other day, and I felt pretty good when he did that. "Most of the races for him will be longer," he added. "I don't have anything special planned for him. We'll just be happy with this for a while." Gulch Approval took them to the stretch through fractions of :23 2/5 and :46 1/5 before he was tackled by Old Forester, who made a big move from the rear of the pack to eventually get to the lead. Ecclesiastic broke well before falling back along the inside for Velasquez. He angled out for a three-wide move in the stretch, prevailing in the long drive over Old Forester, who dug in while racing on the inside when headed close to the wire. The favorite was making his first start since winning the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park March 13. Old Forester was perfect in two previous starts on the Belmont Park grass, including a seven-furlong allowance tally by 7 1/4 lengths there last fall. Ecclesiastic improved his career line to 3-4-4 in 18 starts, with earnings of $211,974. Allen bred him in Kentucky from the Rubiano mare Starry Dreamer. The winner paid $19.60, $7.60, and $3.80 as the fifth choice. Old Forester, favored at 2-1, returned $3.60 and $2.30 while completing a $67.50 exacta. Gulch Approval was $2.60 to show. Following Trade Fair came Seeking the Glory, Thunder Touch, and Blakelock. No Parole, Steel Light, and Aggadan, who was entered for the main track only, were scratched.Joseph Allen's homebred Ecclesiastic ended a 10-race losing streak when he swept past favored Old Forester in deep stretch to win the $111,600 Jaipur Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a head on the Belmont Park turf. The turn back in distance to seven furlongs seemed to do the trick for the 4-year-old son of Pulpit, who won his first graded stakes race at odds of 8-1 in an evenly matched field of seven. Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez for trainer H. Allen Jerkens, Ecclesiastic completed the seven-eighths in an excellent time of 1:20 3/5. Forester, who shouldered top weight of 124 pounds, settled for second with Edgar Prado aboard after taking command from second choice Gulch Approval a furlong from home. Gulch Approval and Javier Castellano finished third, two lengths behind. It was a half-length back to Trade Fair. Ecclesiastic, who carried 118 pounds Saturday, won for the first time in nine starts on the turf. The bay colt was coming off a solid third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Fort Marcy Handicap (gr. IIIT) on a "good" Aqueduct turf course April 23, where he was 1 3/4 lengths behind Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Better Talk Now. Jerkens took over training duties on Ecclesiastic from Kiaran McLaughlin in April prior to the Fort Marcy. "He was in good shape when we got him," said Jerkens. "We just kind of went along with him. He didn't like Florida that much. He's a lot better up here. I had a feeling that he was sharp right now, and I thought he could get up at seven (furlongs). He's got some speed, he blew out real sharp the other day, and I felt pretty good when he did that. "Most of the races for him will be longer," he added. "I don't have anything special planned for him. We'll just be happy with this for a while." Gulch Approval took them to the stretch through fractions of :23 2/5 and :46 1/5 before he was tackled by Old Forester, who made a big move from the rear of the pack to eventually get to the lead. Ecclesiastic broke well before falling back along the inside for Velasquez. He angled out for a three-wide move in the stretch, prevailing in the long drive over Old Forester, who dug in while racing on the inside when headed close to the wire. The favorite was making his first start since winning the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park March 13. Old Forester was perfect in two previous starts on the Belmont Park grass, including a seven-furlong allowance tally by 7 1/4 lengths there last fall. Ecclesiastic improved his career line to 3-4-4 in 18 starts, with earnings of $211,974. Allen bred him in Kentucky from the Rubiano mare Starry Dreamer. The winner paid $19.60, $7.60, and $3.80 as the fifth choice. Old Forester, favored at 2-1, returned $3.60 and $2.30 while completing a $67.50 exacta. Gulch Approval was $2.60 to show. Following Trade Fair came Seeking the Glory, Thunder Touch, and Blakelock. No Parole, Steel Light, and Aggadan, who was entered for the main track only, were scratched

Oratory Flies Away in Peter Pan

2005-05-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Darley Stable's Oratory peeled away from the field in upper stretch for a commanding stakes record victory in the $200,000 Peter Pan (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park Saturday. The Tom Albertrani-trained son of Pulpit, ridden confidently by Jerry Bailey, completed the nine furlongs in a sparkling 1:46 1/5 to win by 4 3/4 lengths in the one-turn event. He knocked three ticks off the stakes mark of 1:46 4/5 established in 1983 by Slew o' Gold and was four-fifths of a second off Secretariat's track record set on September 15, 1973 in the now defunct Marlboro Cup. The $3.3 million-colt Chekhov, the 3-2 favorite trained by Patrick Biancone, launched a bid from the outside on the turn for Gary Stevens after bumping at the start and being well back early, but flattened out in the stretch and finished fourth. Oratory, who earned $120,000 in his stakes debut, is not nominated for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 11. "I think the Belmont will be mostly unlikely," Albertrani said. "Before we make any decisions, we'll let Sheikh Mohammed decide if he wants to do that or not." Breaking from the outside post in the field of eight, Bailey sent the Kentucky-bred bay colt to the front immediately where he settled into a slow pace while leading through the opening quarter mile in :24 with Reverberate and Jose Santos pressuring from the inside. Reverberate led at the half-mile point in :47 2/5 and continued to hold a slight edge over Oratory through the turn after completing six furlongs in 1:11. As they came out of the turn, Oratory grabbed the lead without being asked. He drew clear under moderate urging and was never threatened in the stretch. "He finished very, very well," said Bailey. "I didn't intend to be on the lead, they just gave it to me." "He always has that late acceleration," said Albertrani, who was also surprised his horse was on the lead early. "He just accelerated away from them in the stretch." Reverberate held on for second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of the stalking Golden Man and Edgar Prado, who finished third. The 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes may be in the works for Reverberate, a son of 1995 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers (all gr. I) winner Thunder Gulch. "It looked like he just got beat by a better horse today," said trainer Sal Russo. "I thought he ran very, very well. "We're going to think about the Belmont. It comes back pretty quick. He's a nice colt, and he's still learning. The Travers is certainly in my mind." Oratory had four previous starts, all at Aqueduct, winning twice and finishing second twice. He was coming off a runner-up showing, beaten by a length, as the 3-5 favorite in a 1 1/8-mile allowance heat April 30. Bailey replaced Shaun Bridgmohan in the saddle Saturday. Louie Roussel III bred the winner, who was produced by the Dehere mare Arrested Dreams. Oratory was purchased as a yearling at Keeneland in 2003 for $100,000. The winner paid $12.80, $5.80, and $4.20 as the third choice in the field. Reverberate, who was coming off an allowance win at Belmont Park May 8, returned $8.30 and $5.10. Golden Man, a Florida shipper claimed for $60,000 by Richard Dutrow Jr. in January, was $4 to show. After Chekhov came Robador, Sir Greeley, Gorbash, and Mr Sword. "He got bumped at the start," said Biancone of Chekhov. "He's a big baby and he got a little scared. Lack of maturity might have hurt today." The Peter Pan has produced five Belmont winners, beginning with Coastal in 1979. The others were Danzig Connection in 1986, A.P. Indy in 1992, Colonial Affair in 1993, and Lemon Drop Kid in 1999.

Suspected Strangles Case at Belmont Park

2005-05-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

The New York Racing Association placed the Belmont Park barn of trainer Steve Kappes under quarantine May 27 following discovery of a suspected case of strangles. Strangles, a respiratory disease and the neurological form of equine herpes, is suspected in Kappes' horse Lady Libby, who was put into an isolation stall "after exhibiting signs suggestive of possible strangles," said Dr. Celeste Kunz, NYRA's chief examining veterinarian. Barn 60, where Giacomo was stalled, is under quarantine. The signs of strangles, a disease caused by a bacterium, streptococcus equi, may include nasal discharge, swelling in the lymph glands under the jaw or fever. Most animals recover, but horses that contract even a mild case must be isolated and removed from training or heavy work. "This is a suspected case of strangles, not a confirmed case," Dr. Kunz said. "But we are taking this very seriously, and are taking every precaution and bio-security measure. We are testing every horse in the barn and horses that have been through the barn. And we have isolated Lady Libby. The test samples will be sent to two labs that are accommodating us through the holiday weekend. We should have word early next week." During the winter, cases of strangles were reported in South Florida, while equine herpes has recently been isolated in Kentucky. NYRA has restricted horses coming from those jurisdictions. On May 26, Dr. Kunz announced that horses stabled at Delaware Park are temporarily restricted from NYRA premises due to confirmed strangles. Horses from Churchill Downs are temporarily restricted from NYRA premises until June 1. Horses from quarantined barns are prohibited from NYRA premises until further notice. Trainers wishing to ship horses that have recently relocated from Churchill Downs or Delaware Park must first contact Dr. Kunz. All trainers and veterinarians at NYRA racetracks are asked to report horses with high fevers, neurological signs or enlarged lymph nodes to Dr. Kunz.

Southern Africa a go for Belmont Stakes

2005-05-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

After watching Walmac Lone Star Derby (G3) winner Southern Africa work four furlongs in :48 on Tuesday at Arlington Park, trainer Michael Puhich committed the son of Cape Town to the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 11 at Belmont Park.
While Southern Africa had been considered "probable" for the final jewel of the 2005 Triple Crown, the workout convinced Puhich to go to Belmont.
"He’s coming for sure," Puhich told Belmont officials. "I breezed him [Tuesday] just to make sure he’s still hitting on all cylinders. I don’t think the distance of the Belmont will be a factor for him."
Puhich plans to work Southern Africa at Arlington one more time before shipping on either June 6 or June 7. Puhich has lined up Jon Court to ride in the Belmont. Court guided Southern Africa to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Lone Star Derby on May 14 at Lone Star Park.
After finishing seventh in the Sham Stakes on February 5 at Santa Anita Park to open the season, Southern Africa won the Borderland Derby on February 27 at Sunland Park and finished second in the WinStar Derby on April 2 at Sunland.
"He’s getting better every time he runs," Puhich said. "He deserves a shot at running against better horses."

Afleet Alex survives rough trip to win Preakness Stakes

2005-05-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Afleet Alex survives rough trip to win Preakness Stakes
Life imitated life at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday when Cash Is King Stable’s Afleet Alex, a portion of whose earnings helps fight childhood cancer, survived a collision turning for home to win the 130th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths over Scrappy T in front of a record crowd of 115,318. Showing the same determination Alexandra Scott displayed when she battled cancer until her death at the age of eight last year, Afleet Alex overcame being broadsided by Scrappy T turning for home. He went to his knees, but jockey Jeremy Rose stayed aboard the son of Northern Afleet, who pulled away from Scrappy T to win in 1:55.04 for 1 3/16 miles—the fastest Preakness since Real Quiet finished in 1:54.75 in 1998. “Someone pulled me out of the fire on that one. Little Alex was watching me,” Rose said, referring to Scott and the namesake of the Pennsylvania-based charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand that raises money for cancer.” Afleet Alex finished third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but returned in the Preakness as the 3.30-to-1 favorite. Some talk after the Derby surrounded Afleet Alex’s ability to compete at a route of ground, but he found another gear in the final furlong. Giacomo, who caught Afleet Alex and Closing Argument in deep stretch to win the Kentucky Derby, finished third, and five lengths behind Scrappy T. “I’m very happy that Jeremy was able to stay on the horse, and that the horse is athletic enough to keep going,” winning trainer Tim Ritchey said. “I’ve always said he can go as far as they’ll write races. I think he’ll go a mile-and-a-half without a problem—I always have.” The Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 11 at Belmont Park could be a showdown between Afleet Alex and Giacomo, as well as beaten Derby favorite Bellamy Road. Ritchey said that Afleet Alex would go on to Belmont as long as he came out of Preakness in good order. “I don’t think there was any embarrassment in running third in the Preakness,” said Giacomo’s trainer, John Shirreffs, who did not immediately commit to the Belmont. “We were pleased with the effort. He wins the Derby and comes back to run third in the Preakness; I think that says a lot about Giacomo.” If Afleet Alex fell to the ground, stewards most likely would have placed Scrappy T last, which would have elevated Giacomo to the win position and given that colt a shot at the Triple Crown. Rose staying aboard Afleet Alex was not his only good move in the race, though, as he improved his colt’s position with every move he made around the racetrack. Out of the gate, Rose immediately took Afleet Alex, who started from post 12, toward the rail and found good position in the two path around the first turn. Up the backstretch, Rose went to the inside of a retreating Wilko and gained ground around the far turn. He then tracked Greeley’s Galaxy as that colt made his move before swinging to the outside turning for home, which is when Scrappy T moved sharply to the right and collided with him. “Whoa! You son of a bitch,” Ritchey yelled when Afleet Alex nearly went down, but then exultation: “He’s still going to win! “Jeremy did a fantastic job of putting the horse where he needed to be throughout the entire race,” Ritchey said later. “I’m glad nothing bad happened,” said Ramon Dominguez, who rode Scrappy T. “He was starting to look around some, so I hit him, and I guess I caught him off guard because he just took a sharp right.” Scrappy T looked like an eventual winner around the far turn until Afleet Alex came with his furious rush on the outside. Dominguez gave him a ground-saving trip throughout the race, but lost any chance to win when Scrappy T blew the turn. Scrappy T showed similar tactics when winning the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on April 30. High Limit and Going Wild established the early pace as expected with High Limit maintaining the lead through a quarter mile in :23.17, a half-mile in :46.07, and six furlongs in 1:10.72. High Limit finished fifth, but Going Wild finished last of 14. “He ran good, didn’t he?” High Limit’s trainer, Bobby Frankel, said. “If [Going Wild] wasn’t with him, he would have won, and where did he finish?” The race’s biggest disappointment came from Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument, who never was a factor while finishing ninth in the Preakness. More disappoints abounded for trainer Nick Zito, as his three starters finished fourth (Sun King), sixth (Noble Causeway), and tenth (High Fly) to make his classic record this year zero-for-eight. Afleet Alex was bred in Florida by John Silvertand out of the winning Hawkster mare Maggy Hawk and is a full brother to stakes winner Unforgettable Max. Cash Is King bought Afleet Alex for $75,000 from the consignment of Robert N. Scanlon, agent, at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-olds in training sale. Other Preakness finishers were Greeley's Galaxy, seventh; Malibu Moonshine, eighth; Hal's Image, 11th; Wilko, 12th; and Galloping Grocer, 13th.—Ed DeRosa

wagering on the Belmont Stakes

2005-05-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

wagering on the Belmont Stakes wagering on the Belmont Stakes wagering on the Belmont Stakes wagering on the Belmont Stakes