Belmont Park: Meet titles going down to wire

ELMONT, N.Y. – Ramon Dominguez went into the final four days of racing here with a 64-62 lead over Javier Castellano in the battle for leading rider at the meet, a title that likely won’t be decided until closing day.

Dominguez and Castellano both ride in 16 of the 18 races scheduled over Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, Dominguez is at Delaware Park to ride Havre de Grace in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap, while Castellano has mounts in all 10 races at Belmont.

The race for leading trainer and owner are equally as tight.

Todd Pletcher leads Linda Rice by two, 24-22, but Rice has runners in 15 of the 28 races from Thursday to Saturday, while Pletcher has horses in just six of those races.

Flying Zee Stables maintains a two-win margin over both Michael Dubb and Winning Move. Flying Zee, whose patriarch Carl Lizza Jr. died July 8, has one runner in Friday and six horses entered in five races Saturday. Winning Move is in five races over Thursday and Friday but has nothing entered Saturday.

Entries for Sunday’s card are taken Thursday.

Saratoga stakes nominations out

Nominations are out for the opening weekend stakes at Saratoga, which begins July 22.

The Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville will be run opening day and will feature debut winners Born Bullish, Force de La Nature, Georgie’s Angel, and True Feelings. Five Star Momma won her debut and then ran second in the Grade 3 Debutante at Churchill. Gypsy Robin won her debut at Keeneland before running seventh in the Grade 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in England.

The July 23 card features the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and is expected to attract Mother Goose winner Buster’s Ready, Acorn winner It’s Tricky, Black-Eyed Susan winner Royal Delta, and beaten Kentucky Oaks favorite Joyful Victory. Possible starters include Little Miss Holly and Marvel Gaye.

The Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford Stakes for 2-year-olds highlights the July 24 card and is likely to include the impressive maiden winner Overdriven as well as Big Blue Nation, Maan, Power World, Pryce’s Posse, Scallion, and possibly Futurity winner Jack’s In the Deck and beaten Futurity favorite Tarpy’s Goal.