Go Around's speed could make the difference in Man o' War
ELMONT, N.Y. – Lone speed is a dangerous commodity in route turf races, a point driven home again Thursday when 8-1 Bigger Picture held off 2-5 Fundamental in an allowance race going 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park.
On Saturday at Belmont, Go Around has the look of lone speed in the Grade 1, $400,000 Man o’ War, and he, too, figures to offer value in this 1 3/8-mile marathon scheduled for the inner turf.
Unlike Bigger Picture, Go Around is not a claiming horse. Rather, Go Around looks like an improving 4-year-old, as he’s won both of his starts this year, including a victory over that same Fundamental in the Tampa Turf Classic on April 9. Go Around came from off the pace that day, but he went gate to wire in winning an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in February.
“I don’t think it matters to him as long as he’s comfortable and in his stride,” trainer Bill Mott said when asked about Go Around’s preferred running style. “He’s shown he can handle either situation, which is a good thing.”
Go Around, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, has also shown the ability to win going a distance of ground, taking a 1 1/4-mile maiden race at Belmont exactly one year ago from Saturday.
Mott will also send out Closing Bell in the Man o’ War. Closing Bell won a marathon stakes at Kentucky Downs last fall after running second in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington.
Closing Bell is coming off a third-place finish behind the Mott-trained Take the Stand in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz at Fair Grounds. Mott is adding blinkers to his equipment for the Man o’ War.
“He’s a little bit of a clown,” Mott said. “We’re hoping it helps him pay attention a little bit.”
Mott’s duo will take on a trio of horses from the barn of Chad Brown. Wake Forest finished sixth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million last summer, and in his only start since, he fell a head short to Kaigun when rallying from last in the Pan American at Gulfstream. Kaigun is also in this field.
Brown will send out Morandi, who has had two troubled trips in this country but ran against Group 1 horses in Europe, and Money Multiplier, an allowance winner last out.
Trainer Graham Motion sends out Up With the Birds and Can’thelpbelieving. Biz the Nurse completes the field.
The Man o’ War goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. It is the last leg of an all-graded-stakes pick four that includes the Ruffian, Beaugay, and Peter Pan.
KEY CONTENDERS
Wake Forest, by Sir Percy
Beyers: 101-97
◗ Had a dream inside run but was outfinished by Kaigun in the Grade 2 Pan American off a nearly six-month layoff.
◗ Second race off the layoff and an eighth of a mile shorter may set this favorite up for a winning performance.
Go Around, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-88
◗ Despite being favored in two wins this year in Florida, he figures to offer value as potential lone speed in his first Grade 1 attempt.
◗ Worked well in company with stablemate Closing Bell on Monday over the inner turf course.
Kaigun, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 99-101-102
◗ Rarely fails to fire, though he has a bit of hang in him, as his nine seconds from 26 starts attest.
◗ Beat Wake Forest in the Pan American for his first win since November 2014.
◗ In his lone start at Belmont, he finished second to Real Solution in the Grade 1 Manhattan in 2014.