Monday, June 13 2011
BELMONT PARK NOTES June 12th 2011
ELMONT, N.Y. – It was back to business Sunday morning for New Jersey-based trainer Kelly Breen, who shocked the Belmont Stakes with 24-1 long shot Ruler On Ice on Saturday, his first career Grade 1 victory.
Breen, 42, had four horses entered on Sunday’s Monmouth Park card, and was also dealing with an injury to one of his exercise riders during training hours.
Saturday, June 11 2011
RULER ON ICE, OTHER UPSETS TRIGGER MASSIVE PICK 6 CARRYOVER INTO WEDNESDAY
ELMONT, N.Y. – Ruler On Ice’s 24-1 upset in the Belmont Stakes concluded a Pick 6 sequence which featured multiple longshot winners, creating a $1,130,718.52 carryover into Wednesday’s card.
In addition to Ruler On Ice’s $51.50 triumph in the Belmont Stakes, other upsets in the sequence included It’s Tricky ($22.00) turning back odds-on favorite Turbulent Descent in the Grade 1 TVG Acorn, C. S. Silk ($27.20) wiring the field in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Just a Game, and Mission Approved ($44.00) using front-running tactics to capture the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap.
BELMONT STAKES (G1) RECAP; Saturday, June 11, 2011
ELMONT, N.Y. – Ruler On Ice, dismissed at 24-1, sat a perfect trip under a patient Jose Valdivia, Jr., taking the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off another longshot, Stay Thirsty, to win Saturday’s 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.
Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, the 5-2 favorite, fell back to last shortly after the start when he clipped heels with Mucho Macho Man, who was bumped by Isn’t He Perfect. Under jockey John Velazquez, who lost his left stirrup and didn’t regain it until the first turn, Animal Kingdom made a gallant run to gain third on the far turn, but couldn’t sustain his bid and finished sixth in the third and final leg of racing’s Triple Crown.
BELMONT STAKES DAY CROWD OF 55,779 WAGERS $10,098,573 ON TRACK
ELMONT, N.Y. – A crowd of 55,779 wagered $10,098,573 on Belmont Stakes Day races, a 32.9 percent increase over $7,598,840 in 2010.
An additional $1,465,484 was wagered on incoming simulcasts, bringing the total on-track handle to $11,564,057 compared to $8,229,318 in 2010, a 40.5 percent increase.
MISSION APPROVED WINS SHOCKER IN MANHATTAN
ELMONT, N.Y. – Eleven months after nearly knocking off champion Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Man o’ War, 7-year-old Mission Approved returned to turn the trick Saturday, wiring the field at odds of 21-1 to take the Grade 1, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Claimed by trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul one year ago to the day for $35,000, the bay son of With Approval became one of the most improbable winners of the Manhattan in its 110-year history.
MISSION APPROVED WINS SHOCKER IN MANHATTAN
ELMONT, N.Y. – Eleven months after nearly knocking off champion Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Man o’ War, 7-year-old Mission Approved returned to turn the trick Saturday, wiring the field at odds of 21-1 to take the Grade 1, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Claimed by trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul one year ago to the day for $35,000, the bay son of With Approval became one of the most improbable winners of the Manhattan in its 110-year history.
TRUE NORTH PRESENTED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE (G2) RECAP; Saturday, June 11, 2011
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trappe Shot burst through an opening along the rail straightening for home and onto an 8 ½-length victory over This Ones for Phil in Saturday’s 33rd running of the Grade 2 True North Handicap Presented by Emirates Airline at Belmont Park.
A 4-year-old chestnut son of Tapit ridden by John Velazquez, Trappe Shot completed the muddy six furlongs in 1:08.86 after tracking long shot Khan of Khans through an opening half-mile in 45.43. The win gave trainer Kiaran McLaughlin his second stakes score on the Belmont Stakes undercard, having upset the Grade 1 TVG Acorn one race earlier with It’s Tricky.
IT’S TRICKY PULLS UPSET IN TVG ACORN
ELMONT, N.Y. – It’s Tricky barreled into the lead at the top of the stretch and held off heavy favorite Turbulent Descent to upset Saturday afternoon’s 81st running of the Grade 1, $300,000 TVG Acorn on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Belmont Park.
Ridden by Eddie Castro, the 3-year-old Mineshaft filly stayed just off early fractions of 22.97 and 45.90 set by Savvy Supreme, then moved up eagerly on the turn and forged to the front with Turbulent Descent in hot pursuit. The 3-4 favorite came within striking distance with a furlong to go, but It’s Tricky dug in to pull clear through the final yards for the 3 ¾-length victory.
Friday, June 10 2011
BROOKLYN HANDICAP (G2)/POKER (G3) RECAP: Friday, June 10, 2011
ELMONT, N.Y. – Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott swept Friday’s graded stakes at Belmont Park, finishing first and second in the Grade 2, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap Presented by Ram with Birdrun and Drosselmeyer and capturing the Grade 3, $100,000 Poker with Courageous Cat.
Birdrun seized the lead entering the clubhouse turn and maintained a clear advantage while setting fractions of 49.71, 1:13.88, and 1:38.21 while being shadowed by Drosselemeyer, who moved in tandem with Alma d’Oro to challenge for the lead with three furlongs remaining. The pacesetter had plenty in reserve, however, turning back those bids and widening his lead in the stretch to win by 3 ¾ lengths.
BROOKLYN/BELMONT DAILY DOUBLE WILL PAYS
ELMONT, N.Y. – The following are the $2 Brooklyn/Belmont Daily Double payouts for Brooklyn Handicap winner Birdrun (No. 4) with:
DOUBLE PICK 6 CARRYOVER INTO BELMONT STAKES CARD
ELMONT, N.Y. – The Pick 6 at Belmont Park went unhit for the second consecutive card, creating a $149,402.44 carryover into Belmont Stakes day, which features a $1 Million Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 6.
Tomorrow’s Pick 6 begins at 2:34 with race 6, the Grade 1 TVG Acorn. It continues with the Grade 2 True North Presented by Emirates Airline, Grade 2 Woody Stephens Presented by VisitNassauCounty.com, Grade 1 Foxwoods Just a Game, and Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan, and culminates with the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.
BELMONT PARK NOTES: Friday, June 10, 2011
ELMONT, N.Y. – One day out from a start in the 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, trainer Graham Motion was looking for virtually nothing to happen with his Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up, Animal Kingdom.
Driving back to his barn after Animal Kingdom turned in an easy gallop once around the main track at 9 a.m., Motion expressed something bordering on relief.
