Belmont: King Kreesa awaits invitation to Hong Kong Mile

The connections of King Kreesa, winner of the Mohawk Stakes last weekend against New York-breds, are hoping to receive an invite to the Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 8, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Wednesday.

Englehart said he nominated King Kreesa to that race and hopes to hear within two weeks if he will get an invite.

“It’s an opportunity you don’t get to do very often and the horse has been able to do a lot of things,” Englehart said. “I don’t think a trip like that would bother him.”

Englehart said that if King Kreesa doesn’t get invited to the Hong Kong Mile, the horse would likely be given the remainder of the year off and point to a 2014 campaign.

King Kreesa has 3 wins from 7 starts this year, including the Grade 3 Poker. Also, he finished second to Wise Dan, the reigning Horse of the Year, in the Fourstardave at Saratoga.