Monday, June 30, 2008

BELMONT PARK NOTES, SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2008

Friday is the Fourth of July, and Belmont Park will present a Party at the Park card, with a first race post time of 3 p.m. Coupons will be given out beginning at 1 p.m. for a free Belmont Park cooler bag with each paid admission, while supplies last.

The Independence Day card will feature two stakes races, the 34th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for three-year-olds and up at seven furlongs and the 31st running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Top Flight Handicap for fillies and mares, 3 and up, also at seven furlongs.


Shadwell Stable’s Argentina-bred Lucky Island, who has won four of five career starts and his last three in a row for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, heads this field. He is coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap here at seven furlongs on May 10, and is expected to face Karen and Mickey Taylor’s Council Member, fifth to Benny the Bull in the Grade 2 True North Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day, June 7; Jay Em Ess Stable’s Not for Money, fifth to Bustin Stones in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct; Zayat Stables’ stakes-placed Premium Wine; Winning Move Stable’s Starforaday, winner of Pimlico’s Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap and Fox Ridge Farm’s Tasteyville, winner of Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap last October.

In the First Flight, probable starters are Joseph V. Shields Jr.’s Any Limit; Zayat Stable’s Baroness Thatcher; Lansdon B. Robbins III’s Ice Cool Kitty; Winning Move Stable’s Rite Moment; New Farm’s Wild Gams and Gary and Mary West’s Windy.

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Next Saturday’s feature will be the Grade 1, $250,000 Prioress for three-year-old fillies.

Hal J. Earnhardt’s Indian Blessing, who set a hot pace only to finish second to Zaftig in the Grade 1, one-mile Acorn here on Belmont Stakes Day, turns back to six furlongs in the 61st edition of this classy race.

Likely challengers are Jay Em Ess Stable’s undefeated (5 for 5) By the Light; Mercedes Stable’s Indian Way; William Stiritz’ Grade 3 Miss Preakness winner Palanka City, who has won three in a row; Richard Hills Stable’s stakes-placed Secret Gypsy, and Gulf Coast Farme’s Tale of the West, who is unbeaten in two starts.

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The holiday weekend closes out on Sunday with a card featuring the 91st running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer for three-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth.

Zayat Stable’s Halo Najib; Anstu Stable’s Manteca; Pinebloom Stable’s Mint Lane and Winning Move Stable’s Pascal are likely, with Earl I. Mack’s Icabad Crane a possibility.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to run on of the following: Behindatthebar, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.17 on the fast training track on Sunday, Fujita, Harlem Rocker, Meal Penalty or Ready’s Image.

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