Chateau, Firenze Fire clash in Runhappy Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – After taking a shot going seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and finishing fourth, Chateau will be back at his preferred six-furlong distance in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes. Two starts back, Chateau won the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct going six furlongs.

Chateau has done his best work at Aqueduct, whereas Firenze Fire, also entered in the Runhappy, is a five-time stakes winner at Belmont Park, including winning at least one stakes here each of the last four years. The 6-year-old Firenze Fire won the Grade 1 Champagne at 2, the Grade 3 Dwyer at 3, and the Runhappy at 4. Last year, he took the True North and Vosburgh, both Grade 2 stakes at Belmont.

The Runhappy drew only five, including Drafted, Stan the Man, and Town Classic.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Belmont Park Clocker Report

In the Grade 3 Vagrancy, the other sprint stakes Saturday at Belmont, Victim of Love will try to win for a second straight year when she meets five rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares. Victim of Love upset last year’s Vagrancy as the longest shot in the six-horse field at 27-1.

Victim of Love has run only twice since the Vagrancy, finishing third in the Grade 1 Ballerina last August at Saratoga and second in an allowance at Laurel in February. Joel Rosario rides Victim of Love for trainer Todd Beattie.

Pacific Gale will seek her third straight stakes victory in 2021 when she runs in the Vagrancy for the third consecutive year. Pacific Gale, trained by John Kimmel, is coming off wins in the Inside Information and Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream.

In 2019, Pacific Gale was beaten a neck by Heavenhasmynikki in the Vagrancy, and last year she finished six lengths behind Victim of Love.

Honor Way, Piedi Bianchi, Sadie Lady, and Kiss the Girl also were entered, though the latter is cross-entered in an allowance at Pimlico.