Defections abound for Bed o' Roses field

ELMONT, N.Y. – Eight were entered but far fewer will run at Belmont on Friday in the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses for older female sprinters, a situation that could result in American Gal being a prohibitive favorite against an abbreviated field in the seven-furlong race. If she goes there.

As of Wednesday morning, trainer Simon Callaghan said he and owner Kaleem Shah had yet to make a decision on American Gal, who is one of three horses in the Bed o’ Roses also entered Saturday on the Belmont Stakes undercard in the Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps going 1 1/16 miles.

Ivy Bell was expected to await the Phipps, according to her trainer, Todd Pletcher. American Gal and Highway Star – both also entered in the Phipps – could be race-day decisions for the Bed o’ Roses, while both Chalon and Union Strike are expected to scratch.

So, if American Gal stays in the Bed o’ Roses, over a trip at which she excels – and with a favorable pace scenario owing to the withdrawal of the speedy Chalon – she would be a formidable challenge for whoever remains in the race.

Regardless, the field will be small, hence it being positioned as race 3 on the card.

American Gal comes off a front-running victory in the Humana Distaff five weeks ago at Churchill Downs, which marked the second Grade 1 victory of her career, both times at the Bed o' Roses distance of seven furlongs. This is her wheelhouse. And she is proven at Belmont Park, having captured the Grade 3 Victory Ride last July in her first start for Callaghan, for whom she has won three times in four starts.

“More than likely we’ll stick with the seven-eighths,” Callaghan said, “but we’re strongly considering the Ogden Phipps.”

He and Shah could wait until Friday to decide, if they wish.

Ivy Bell was second to American Gal in the Humana Distaff, but she drew the rail for the Bed o’ Roses, “and that likely sealed the deal” in terms of awaiting the Phipps, Pletcher said.

Chalon is 0 for 2 going seven furlongs, and finished second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy going 6 1/2 furlongs last time out. Her trainer, Arnaud Delacour, said he thought the six-furlong Regret at Monmouth on June 17 was a better way to move her along to the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga going six furlongs on July 25.

“I’m not sure seven-eighths is her best distance,” Delacour said of his concern regarding the Bed o’ Roses.

Lewis Bay is certain for the Bed o’ Roses. She was third over a wet-fast surface in the Humana Distaff, and now returns to Belmont Park, where she has never finished worse than second in four starts.

Divine Miss Grey has won three of her last four starts, all against softer company, but this former claimer is in the best form of her career and owns three wins in four starts at Belmont, once going seven furlongs.

Cairenn never has faced horses of this quality – this is her first start in a graded stakes – nor has she raced at Belmont Park. But if things flop in her favor, she could be one of just three horses in the race, guaranteeing her graded stakes black type.

Union Strike would have been making her first start since January, but her owner and trainer, Mick Ruis, said on Wednesday she would scratch.

– additional reporting by David Grening