Kharafa may have edge over King Kreesa in Ashley T. Cole Stakes
King Kreesa has gotten the better of Kharafa in six of the eight meetings between the two 7-year-old New York-bred geldings. But the dynamics of Saturday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole at Belmont Park appear to favor Kharafa, who has won this race in two of the last three years.
First, Kharafa should find the 1 1/8 miles of the Cole more to his liking than may King Kreesa. Second, there appears to be plenty of speed in this six-horse field, which should help the off-the-pace style of Kharafa while potentially hindering King Kreesa, who went gate to wire while beating Kharafa a nose in the West Point at Saratoga.
“There looks like there’s three speed horses in there, which should set it up well,” said Tim Hills, Kharafa’s trainer. “We’ll get an honest pace, and we should sit the trip well. I think the race unfolds well for us, especially now that Kharafa’s learned to chill out, sit back a little bit.”
A fast pace would also help Offering Plan and Tapitation, who ran third and fourth behind King Kreesa and Kharafa in the West Point at 1 1/16 miles. That quartet was separated by half a length.
Tapitation, who beat King Kreesa and Kharafa in the one-mile Kingston here in May, is trained by Ralph Nicks. Nicks also entered Latigo Trail as a potential pacemaker, though the two are uncoupled in the wagering. But with the speedy Harbor King in the field to potentially occupy King Kreesa, Nicks said he may scratch Latigo Trail.
The Cole is the fourth race on a 10-race card that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
Key Contenders
Kharafa, by Kitalpha
Last 3 Beyers: 99-100-88
◗ Hills felt Kharafa didn’t like trying to come through on the inside when beaten a nose by King Kreesa in the West Point.
“There was room, but not a lot of room, and I don’t think he got good momentum going,” Hills said. “He was kind of probing through the field pretty much the whole length of the stretch.”
◗ Has a record of 7-6-2 from 19 starts at Belmont.
◗ Jockey Antonio Gallardo makes his Belmont Park debut in this spot.
King Kreesa, by King Cugat
Last 3 Beyers: 99-100-98
◗ Came back in six days to win the West Point after running fourth in the Grade 1 Fourstardave.
◗ Though he’s had most of his success on the front end, he did win last year’s Forbidden Apple from off the pace.
◗ Is only 1 for 5 at 1 1/8 miles.
“I’m a believer if you can get a mile and a sixteenth, you can get a mile and an eighth,” trainer David Donk said. “It’s probably stretching it, but he’s run well here.”
◗ Has a record of 8-4-3 from 19 starts at Belmont.
Tapitation, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-97
◗ Took advantage of a hot early pace to rally from 12 lengths back in beating King Kreesa and Kharafa in the Kingston.
◗ Nicks may employ a rabbit, Latigo Trail, to allow Tapitation to sit back and make one run.
“If you can use his three-eighths or quarter-mile run in the proper way, we’ll be in good shape,” Nicks said.
Offering Plan, by Spring at Last
Last 3 Beyers: 99-99-98
◗ Was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths when fifth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, his lone try at 1 1/8 miles.