McLaughlin, Pletcher barns square off in Kelso Handicap
In addition to the four Grade 1 stakes on Super Saturday at Belmont Park, the 11-race card includes the Grade 2 Kelso at one mile; the Grade 3 Hill Prince, a $500,000 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf; and the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational.
The $350,000 Kelso may produce starters for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. The wide-open, seven-horse field includes two entrants each from Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin.
Tamarkuz ran a strong race in the seven-furlong Forego at Saratoga to be second to A. P. Indian, who is undefeated in five starts this year. A 6-year-old son of Speightstown trained by McLaughlin, Tamarkuz raced near the back of the 10-horse field at the quarter pole, but Mike Smith managed to split horses and avoided losing much ground. Tamarkuz was striding out nicely at the finish.
“Tamarkuz ran really well last time with Mike Smith,” McLaughlin said. “Mike really liked him, and we’re happy that we’re going to have him back.”
McLaughlin’s other horse is Ocean Knight, who was beaten a nose last out by Protonico, who is entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup later on the card.
“He was on the lead last time in a mile allowance race, but he ran a huge race, did a big number,” McLaughlin said.
Ocean Knight earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Pletcher has entered Anchor Down, the winner of the Grade 3 Westchester going a mile at Belmont in May, and Tommy Macho, who will be making his first start since having a knee chip removed following his 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper at Gulfstream Park in February.
Other contenders include Upstart, who finished a hard-trying third to Frosted in the Whitney at Saratoga for trainer Rick Violette, and Point Piper, who comes into this off a win in the Longacres Mile for Jerry Hollendorfer.
Cyrus Alexander, the runner-up in the Longacres Mile for Hollendorfer, came back to win the $150,000 Pennsylvania Derby Championship Stakes at Parx Racing two weeks ago.
Brown has two in Hill Prince
Trainer Chad Brown will send out two top players in the Hill Prince: Beach Patrol and Camelot Kitten.
Beach Patrol will be making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park as the 5-2 favorite in mid-August. In his prior start, he finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby to Deauville, who has since finished a close third against older rivals in the Arlington Million.
Camelot Kitten’s three wins this year have come in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame at Saratoga, the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge at Belmont, and the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs.
Beach Patrol will break from the outside post in the 10-horse field but should have enough tactical speed to land a good position before the first turn.
Inspector Lynley, trained by Shug McGaughey, ran a strong race to defeat Camelot Kitten by a nose in the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga on Sept. 5, despite being bottled up in upper stretch and having to alter course to the outside twice.
Generazio pair in Turf Sprint
Pure Sensation and Disco Partner, who finished first and second in course-record time in the Grade 3 Jaipur here on Belmont Stakes Day, look like the horses to beat in Saturday’s inaugural running of the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational. Both are owned and bred by Frank and Patricia Generazio but will race as separate betting interests.
This six-furlong race is designed as a stepping-stone to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
Pure Sensation won the Jaipur by a neck over Disco Partner; the final time of 1:06.76 was a Widener turf-course record for six furlongs. Pure Sensation came back to win the Grade 3 Parx Dash on July 9 before a foot injury interrupted his summer. He was scheduled to run in the Turf Monster at Parx on Sept. 5 but was not even entered after another foot problem developed.
“It was annoying. It’s been a problem on and off for two months,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “He’s doing well now, he looks great. He loves firm turf, he hates it soft. I have to keep an eye on the weather.”
Kendrick Carmouche rides Pure Sensation from post 5.
Disco Partner came out of the Jaipur and ran fourth in a second-level allowance race in which he stumbled at the start. He came back to win the Troy Stakes by a neck over Green Mask at Saratoga.
Green Mask came back to win an allowance race here Sept. 16 and is back in this field. Long On Value, the winner of the Lucky Coin Stakes and beaten a neck when fourth in the Troy, is another major player in this field.
Pool Winner had a five-race winning streak snapped when finishing third in the Turf Monster at Parx.
– additional reporting by David Grening