Absence of Stark Contrast leaves Belmont Derby wide open
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Stark Contrast, among the leaders of the 3-year-old male turf division, was not entered as expected in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby at Saratoga, leaving the field with a seemingly wide-open group of 10, including a pair of European shippers.
Stark Contrast, coming off a dominant 2 1/4-length victory as the favorite in the Grade 1 American Turf at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, was pointing to the Belmont Derby. Trainer Michael McCarthy, via text, indicated he was not satisfied with the horse’s training leading into a scheduled workout last week so he decided against working him and shipping him cross-country. Stark Contrast, who earlier this year won the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita and was second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, has not worked since June 19.
“Needs time,” McCarthy wrote. “Wasn’t happy with how he was training into this work.”
Thus, favoritism in the Belmont Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles, could fall to Title Role, winner of the German 2000 Guineas and UAE 2000 Guineas. Both of those were run at one mile. Title Role is trained by Simon Crisford and will be ridden by John Velazquez.
Charlie Appleby has sent Pacific Avenue in for the Belmont Derby. Pacific Avenue is winless in four starts this year, though he finished third, at odds of 40-1, to Gstaad in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
The Belmont Derby field includes West End Kid, Blackmail, and Bottas, the top three finishers from the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge at Saratoga on June 4. Remember Mamba, second to Stark Contrast in the American Turf, is also in this field as are Audubon Stakes one-two finishers Touch of Fire and Tiernangoue, Murphy Stakes winner Turf Star, and Jersey Derby winner Third Coast.
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