Competitionofideas, Homerique rematched in New York Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Competitionofideas will get a chance to turn the tables on her stablemate Homerique when the two head an eight-horse field entered Sunday for Friday’s Grade 2, $600,000 New York at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

The New York is one of five stakes on Friday’s 11-race card at Belmont Park that begins at 12:50 p.m.

Competitionofideas was beaten a half-length by Homerique in the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes here on May 11. While Competitionofideas saved ground for the entire trip, never leaving the rail, she couldn’t match strides with a three-wide rallying Homerique in the stretch.

The Beaugay was the first start for Competitionofideas since she won the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita last December.

“When you look at her race in the American Oaks, she was in the clear running down the center of the track; her wins have been that way,” said trainer Chad Brown, who has won two of the last three runnings of the New York. “I think being down on the inside of another rival … I’m not saying she would have won because Homerique had an electric turn of foot, but I can tell you Competitionofideas doesn’t like being down in there.”

On Friday, Competitionofideas will break from post 6 under Javier Castellano.

Homerique, who won the Beaugay in her first start for Brown and first in the U.S, drew post 8 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Holy Helena, winner of the The Very One on March 2, Semper Sententiae, Giant Zinger, Lady Montdore and Vexatious, the second-through fifth-place finishers in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay, and Matty’s Magnum make up the remainder of the New York field.

Arklow chooses Gold Cup

The connections of Arklow, second in the Grade 1 Man o’ War at 1 3/8 miles here last month, opted to run him in Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational going two miles as opposed to Saturday’s Grade, 1, $1 million Manhattan at 1 1/4 miles.

Trainer Brad Cox said he didn’t necessarily want to back up in distance and noted that the horse has already won at 1 1/2 miles.

“We’re going to be one of the choices and it should be a touch easier race,” Cox said.

On Sunday, at Churchill Downs, Arklow worked a half-mile in 49 seconds over the Churchill turf in company with Beau Recall, the Cox-trained Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile winner who is shipping here for Saturday’s Grade 1 Just a Game.

Arklow, the 123-pound highweight, drew post 6 in a nine-horse field. He will take on a trio of European-based runners topped by Mootasadir, a Group 3 winner at Dundalk last fall and including Amade and Raa Atoll. Red Knight, winner of the H. Allen Jerkens going two miles at Gulfstream Park, Hunter O’Riley, Highland Sky, Canessar, and Noble Thought complete the field.

Catalina Cruiser tops True North

Catalina Cruiser, who won his first four starts including a pair of graded stakes before finishing sixth as the 4-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, will make his seasonal debut in Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 True North Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

On Sunday, at Santa Anita, Catalina Cruiser worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, his ninth work since he returned to the worktab in April.

Catalina Cruiser drew post 3 in a field of 10 that includes Whitmore, beaten a neck by Imperial Hint in last year’s True North two starts before he won the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga, and Recruiting Ready, second in the Runhappy Stakes here on May 11.

Others entered are Bon Raison, Stan the Man, Nicodemus, Strike Power, Do Share, Gold for the King, and Mr. Dougie Fresh. Nicodemus could scratch to await the John Nerud on July 6, trainer Linda Rice has said.

The True North is the first leg of a two-day, all-stakes pick six that includes the Belmont Gold Cup and four Grade 1 stakes on Saturday – the Woody Stephens, Met Mile, Manhattan, and Belmont Stakes.

Chalon tops Bed O’ Roses

Chalon, who made a successful 5-year-old debut in the Skipat Stakes three weeks ago at Pimlico, heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed O’ Roses Invitational at seven furlongs.

In six starts for trainer Arnaud Delacour, Chalon has three wins and three seconds with one of those second-place finishes coming in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

In 2017, when trained by Peter Miller, Chalon won the Jersey Girl Stakes the day after the Belmont Stakes. Last year, Chalon finished second in the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap.

Pacific Gale and two-time Grade 1 winner Separationofpowers, second and third, respectively in the Grade 3 Vagrancy last out, are back in this field.

Others entered in the Bed O’ Roses are Saguaro Row, Mybigitalianfriend, Dawn the Destroyer, and Spring in the Wind.

► Maven, who became the first progeny of American Pharoah to win a race in North America, meets seven fellow 2-year-olds in the $150,000 Tremont Stakes.

Maven, who won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct by a half-length, drew post 2 and will be ridden by Dylan Davis. Wesley Ward trains him. Ward also trains the filly Dixie Mo, whom he has entered in Thursday’s $150,000 Astoria Stakes.

Rookie Salsa, who upset the Kentucky Juvenile at 27-1 for his second win in as many starts, is the lone two-time winner in the Tremont field. Fore Left and Memorable won their debuts at Santa Anita and Churchill, respectively. Theitalianamerican, Now Is, and Federale are maidens.