Fore Left joins Belmont Stakes field

ELMONT, N.Y. – Fore Left, winner of the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas in Dubai in his last start, will be re-routed from Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens to the $1 million Belmont Stakes, trainer Doug O’Neill said Tuesday.

Fore Left, a son of Twirling Candy owned by Paul Reddam, adds some pace to the Belmont, which this year will be run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn. He will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who won the 2017 Belmont aboard Tapwrit.

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Prior to Fore Left joining the field, the primary speed of the race was Tap It to Win, who was coming off a front-running allowance victory here June 3 going 1 1/16 miles.

Following his victory in the UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 6, Fore Left was being pointed to the UAE Derby at 1 1/8 miles on March 28 at Meydan. That card was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Woody Stephens became the initial target since Fore Left will be coming off a four-month layoff.

Fore Left is part of a 12-horse string O’Neill has had here for a few weeks. Fore Left has breezed twice over Belmont’s main track, including a six-furlong move in 1:12.52 on Sunday.

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“Fore Left has settled in and training really well over the Belmont surface,” O’Neill said. “He’s coming off a real strong performance in Dubai. We really like the one turn, 1 1/8-mile layout and the lack of a lot of speed projected in there.

“If we’re ever going to take a shot with him, he’s telling us that now is the time,” O’Neill added. “I’m optimistic he’ll put in a solid effort under Jose Ortiz.”

At 2, Fore Left won the Tremont Stakes here by 4 1/2 lengths. His other stakes win last year came in the restricted Sunny Slope, a 6 1/2-furlong dirt race at Santa Anita.

Fore Left’s inclusion expands the Belmont Stakes field to 10, topped by dual Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law.

Post positions will be drawn at noon Wednesday at the track.