Belmont: Gutierrez to test out Belmont Stakes route in Brooklyn Handicap on Friday

Mario Gutierrez was named to ride five horses on Friday at Belmont Park, the day before he will attempt to complete racing’s first Triple Crown in 34 years on I’ll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes. The mounts represent the first time Gutierrez will ride races on the uniquely configured 1 1/2-mile oval at Belmont.

Among the horses he was named to ride was Boxeur des Rues in the Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap, run at the same 1 1/2-mile distance as the Belmont Stakes. Boxeur des Rues drew post 10 in a 12-horse field for the Brooklyn. The Brooklyn is the first leg of a daily double wager that links to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

Gutierrez, who is scheduled to arrive in New York on Monday, was also named to ride Lignite in a five-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies; Amber Coast in a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up; Sky Humor in a seven-furlong maiden claiming turf race; and Nuffsaid Nuffsaid, who is a main-track-only entrant in race scheduled for the turf.

The Brooklyn will go as the final race on a 10-race program that also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Jaipur for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on the turf.

Like I’ll Have Another, Boxeur des Rues is owned by Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O’Neill. In his only dirt start, Boxeur des Rues finished sixth behind Ron the Greek in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. Since then, he has finished next-to-last in both the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico.

Earlier this week, O’Neill said Boxeur des Res had an issue with his right front foot, but has since had the shoe cut down to three-quarters and the horse seems to have responded favorably in his training.

The field drawn for the Brooklyn includes last year’s winner, Birdrun, who drew post 4, and the 2009 winner, Eldaafer, who drew post 5.

Others entered were Hailstone, Not Abroad, Eye on Jacob, Golden Gulch, Praetereo, Arthur’s Tale, Balladry, Redeemed and Kentucky Reign.

Arthur’s Tale and Balladry will run as a coupled entry as both are owned by Darley Stable.

Right One and Yield Bogey, the one-two finishers in last year’s Jaipur - when the race was run in July - head the eight-horse field entered for this year’s renewal of the Jaipur.

Right One, trained by Christophe Clement, comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Commonwealth in April. Yield Bogey, trained by Pat Kelly, has not run since finishing last in the Grade 1 Nearctic at Woodbine last October.

Others entered for the Jaipur, scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener turf, are Leave of Absence, Boots Ahead, Upgrade, Shintoh, Bergerac and Senor Dehere.  Ponzi Scheme is entered for the main track only.