Belmont Derby distance suits Highland Sky
ELMONT, N.Y. – Distance may be a question for many of the 13 3-year-olds who will contest the 1 1/4 miles of Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby over the inner turf course. It shouldn’t be an issue for Highland Sky, who ran the equivalent of 1 1/4 miles – if not farther – when he was beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes last month at Belmont Park.
Highland Sky got parked five wide entering the far turn and was wider still in the stretch, falling a neck short of Camelot Kitten in the Pennine Ridge, run at 1 1/8 miles.
“I love it for him unless I’m crazy,” trainer Barclay Tagg said of the Belmont Derby distance. “But if you lose that much ground going a mile and a quarter, it might not be any different.”
Highland Sky finished a nose in front of Call Provision, who was a neck in front of pacesetter Toughest ‘Ombre in the Pennine Ridge. The top four finishers from the Pennine Ridge, plus European-based runners Long Island Sound, Deauville, and Humphrey Bogart as well as Midwest shippers Airoforce and Surgical Strike, help make up a contentious field for the third running of the Belmont Derby.
Previously the Jamaica and run in the fall, the Belmont Derby and the $1 million Belmont Oaks (previously the Garden City) are now run in July. They highlight an 11-race Stars and Stripes card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern and includes the Grade 2 Suburban, Grade 3 Dwyer, Grade 3 Belmont Sprint, and Grade 3 Victory Ride. The stakes comprise a pick-six wager that will have a guaranteed pool of $300,000.
The Belmont Derby, Suburban, and Oaks will be shown live on NBC in a 90-minute telecast beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Highland Sky’s pedigree also suggests that 10 furlongs should be within his scope. In his family is Royal Mountain Inn, who went 6 for 6 at Belmont, including victories in the Red Smith (1 1/4 miles) and Man o’ War (1 3/8 miles).
Highland Sky, a son of Sky Mesa, is a little slow to get into stride, which often puts him at the back of the pack. He also lacks a strong turn of foot, prompting Tagg to label him “a plodder.”
“He’ll grind it out,” Tagg said.
Camelot Kitten, one of three entrants from trainer Chad Brown, has already been successful in a 13-horse field, weaving his way to victory in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs. He followed that up with his Pennine Ridge score. Both wins have come since the addition of blinkers.
Brown also will send out Call Provision, who in just his second start was beaten a neck in the Pennine Ridge. His draw of post 12 “is not ideal” Brown said.
Brown looks for a bounce-back effort from Beach Patrol, who had only shipped to him a few days before the race when he ran sixth in the Penn Mile. His neck loss to Camelot Kitten in the American Turf shows he can compete at this level, and his pedigree – he’s a son of Lemon Drop Kid out of a Quiet American mare – suggests 10 furlongs should not be an issue.
Long Island Sound looks to be the best of the three European-based runners in the field. He is a nephew of Zenyatta and comes out of a third-place finish behind Hawkbill in the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
KEY CONTENDERS
Highland Sky, by Sky Mesa
Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-84
◗ Overcame a slow pace to win the Woodhaven Stakes two starts back.
◗ Began the year with a second-place finish to Giant Run in a stakes at Gulfstream. Giant Run won Monday’s Manila Stakes here.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Highland Sky. Trainer Barclay Tagg is 78-3-6-16 with a $0.70 ROI over the past five years in graded stakes (23-0-4-2 over the past two years). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Long Island Sound, by Galileo
◗ He is stepping up to a Grade 1 for the first time but was beaten only four lengths in his last race by Hawkbill, who has won six consecutive races, including a Group 1 last weekend at Sandown.
“We think he deserves a chance based on his form,” T.J. Comerford, assistant to trainer Aidan O’Brien, said Thursday. “He’s the baby of the bunch, but nothing bothers him anyway.”
◗ Comerford believes the colt will appreciate firm footing.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Long Island Sound and No. 13 Deauville. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is 33-8-5-3 with a $3.40 ROI over the past five years in turf route Grade 1 stakes with foreign shippers racing within 45 days of their previous start. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Camelot Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 89-96-83
◗ He is 2 for 2 since the addition of blinkers and kicked home strongly when five wide in the Pennine Ridge last out.
“He’s running in a manner you would think a mile and a quarter wouldn’t be a problem,” Brown said. “He has been the recipient of two great rides [and] trips in his last two races.”
Airoforce, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-72
◗ Finished fourth in the American Turf, where he surprised his connections by being on the lead.
◗ Beaten 2 1/4 lengths by stablemate Catch a Glimpse in the Grade 3 Penn Mile but galloped out well ahead of her, something trainer Mark Casse thought was noteworthy because very few horses gallop by Catch a Glimpse.
“I think he’s a bit of a sleeper in there,” Casse said. “If he comes with his ‘A’ game, he can be right there. Last race is better than it looks; he was hung up down inside until late.”