Gailo Chop brings French win streak into Belmont Derby
ELMONT, N.Y. – As a gelding, Gailo Chop was ineligible to compete in Europe’s classic races for 3-year-olds, including France’s 2000 Guineas and French Derby. However, if he hadn’t been gelded, Gailo Chop might not have been good enough to compete in those races.
Gelded as a 2-year-old, Gailo Chop has won five of seven career starts, including a pair of Group 3 races in France in April. He brings a four-race winning streak into Saturday’s $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational, one of two seven-figure races and one of five stakes on Saturday’s 10-race “Stars and Stripes” card at Belmont Park.
The Belmont Derby replaces the Jamaica on the schedule, which allows it to be carded as a Grade 1 race. It shares billing with the Belmont Oaks Invitational, formerly the Garden City. The Oaks also is a Grade 1. The creation of these races – both at 1 1/4 miles on turf – was the brainchild of Martin Panza, the senior vice president of racing operations for the New York Racing Association.
The idea was to attract European interest. Gailo Chop, a French-bred by Deportivo, was one of four European-based runners entered in the Belmont Derby. Four more European-based runners were entered in the Oaks.
Trainer Antoine Watrigant said he felt he had no choice but to geld Gailo Chop as a 2-year-old.
“He was a heavy horse and very strong, so to avoid any future problem, they decided to geld him,” Watrigant said Wednesday at Belmont through an interpreter.
Though Gailo Chop has won three times at 1 1/4 miles or farther, both Watrigant and jockey Julien Auge believe the horse is probably more suited to a mile. Gailo Chop is a closer, and Watrigant said his chances depend on how fast the leaders go early in the race.
Gailo Chop drew post 7 in an 11-horse field.
Toast of New York, who has not run since winning the UAE Derby at Meydan on March 29, drew the rail. He has been pointing to this race since he was declared from the Epsom Derby due to soft ground. The forecast for Saturday is for sunshine, but rain was forecast for Friday. Toast of New York was scheduled to breeze over Belmont’s turf course Thursday with regular rider Jamie Spencer.
Adelaide, the runner-up in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Pornichet, a French-bred colt recently purchased by Australian interests, are the other two European-based runners in the field.
Flamboyant began his career in France before being sold and transferred to trainer Patrick Gallagher. He finished a nose behind Gailo Chop in a race last fall in France. In two starts for Gallagher, Flamboyant won the La Puente at Santa Anita and was beaten a head by Gala Award in the Pennine Ridge here May 26.
Gala Award, who drew post 11, also is in this field, as are Bobby’s Kitten, Dance With Fate, Global View, Mr Speaker, and Sheldon.
Four Euros in Oaks
There are four European-based runners in the $1 million Belmont Oaks – a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf – though two of them are expected to stay in the United States following the race.
Xcellence, third of 12 in the Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly on June 15, looks like the top European invader. Owned by Martin Schwartz, she is expected to move to trainer Chad Brown following this race. She drew post 7.
Goldy Espony, a Group 3 winner in France with Henri-Alex Pantall, was moved to Brown in June and runs in the Oaks. Prior to an inexplicably bad performance at Longchamp in a Group 1 last out, Goldy Espony had solid form. She has worked twice for Brown, who said: “Since arriving in my barn, every day she’s gotten better and better. She deserves a shot in this race.”
Brown also will start Minorette, who finished second to Oaks runner Sea Queen in the Wonder Again Stakes here May 25. Completing the field are the multiple Grade 1 winner Room Service, My Conquestadory, Rosalind, Wonderfully, Flying Jib, Recepta, and Summer Solo.