Arrest Me Red could target Breeders' Cup after Belmont Turf Sprint win

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Trainer Wesley Ward already has Golden Pal and Campanelle targeting the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint next month at Del Mar. He may have added to his roster Saturday at Belmont Park when the 3-year-old Arrest Me Red went to the lead and never surrendered it in winning the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational by one length.

Pulsate, winner of the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga, finished second by three-quarters of a length over Chewing Gum. Backtohisroots, Therapist, Guildsman, and Buy Land and See completed the order of finish.

Piedi Bianchi and Belgrano scratched.

Arrest Me Red was coming off a neck victory in the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 11, his first start off an eight-month layoff. That day, he stalked a pretty hot pace from third.

Saturday, with no defined speed in the field, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. decided to put Arrest Me Red on the lead. He was able to get a clear advantage through a quarter in 22.33 seconds, maintain it through a half-mile in 45.75, and covered the six furlongs in 1:07.86, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

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“He broke well from the gate, and I just stayed quiet and relaxed,” Ortiz said. “I was on the front, so I just was biding my time to go. He was traveling perfectly and when I asked him to run, he responded really well.”

Ward, who watched the race from Kentucky, said he didn’t give Ortiz any instructions but was okay with him being on the lead early.

“I think he’s a little better coming from behind, but I was happy to see him bounce out there,” Ward said. “He kind of got a little anxious [saddling]. That’s not like him.”

Arrest Me Red, a son of Pioneerof the Nile owned by Lael Stable, improved his record to 4 for 6. All four of his wins have come in turf sprints. Ward said he would like to take a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which is run at five furlongs.

“For sure,” Ward said. “He certainly earned it today. I think he’s just a 3-year-old and this time of year they’re always starting to blossom so I think he’s meant to be a really good turf sprinter and he showed it the last two.”

Ward is planning to run Golden Pal in the Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9 and Campanelle in the Grade 3, $150,000 Franklin County, also at Keeneland, on Oct. 15.