Few willing to face Volatile in Vosburgh

ELMONT. N.Y. – Volatile, winner of the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt in July at Saratoga, may have only three challengers in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park.

As of Sunday, the racing office listed Firenze Fire, T Loves a Fight, and Share the Ride as others expected to run in the Vosburgh, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

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Volatile, a son of Violence trained by Steve Asmussen, has won all three of his starts this year, four in a row dating back to last November, and is 5 for 6 overall.

Jose Ortiz will replace regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. for the day on Volatile.

Volatile was expected to have his final breeze for the Vosburgh on Tuesday at Saratoga.

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Share the Ride is a recent addition to the expected field. Claimed for $16,000 on July 5 by Antonio Arriaga for owner Silvino Ramirez, the 5-year-old gelding by Candy Ride is coming off a 3 3/4-length victory in the Mr. Prospector Stakes on Sept. 12 at Monmouth. He earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

That race came one week after he finished fifth to Analyze It in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes on turf. Arriaga said he used the Red Bank as a training session for Share the Ride to get to the Mr. Prospector.

“We didn’t ask him too much that day,” Arriaga said. “We never thought he was going to be this good.”

Arriaga said that if Share the Ride does run in the Vosburgh, Manny Franco would ride.