New York-breds run for big money on Big Apple Showcase Day
ELMONT, N.Y. – The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie are expected to arrive in the New York area by Monday, potentially putting a damper on one of the more fun wagering cards of the Belmont Park meet, Big Apple Showcase Day.
All 10 races on the card are restricted to New York-breds, including six stakes worth $900,000 in total. It is a card that mirrors the fall’s New York Showcase Day program that has been in existence for decades.
The Commentator, for males, and the Critical Eye, for fillies and mares, share top billing with pots of $200,000 each. The $125,000 Kingston on turf includes the hard-knocking trio of Kharafa, King Kreesa, and Lubash, while its sister race, the $125,000 Mount Vernon, includes the full sisters Invading Humor and Distorted Beauty. The Mike Lee, for 3-year-old males, and the Bouwerie, for 3-year-old fillies, are both run at seven furlongs on dirt and worth $125,000.
A wet track would add another element to an already-difficult handicapping puzzle that is the Commentator, run at a one-turn mile. Top contender Royal Posse appears to prefer two turns but can handle a wet track. Ostrolenka should love the one-turn mile but is 0 for 4 on a wet track. Eye Luv Lulu and Weekend Hideaway are wet-track specialists but have done their best work sprinting.
Royal Posse has four wins and four seconds from eight starts since trainer Rudy Rodriguez claimed him for $20,000 on behalf of Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith. All of those races have come around two turns, including a 3 3/4-length victory in the Mr. Sinatra last out at Aqueduct. He has run well at Belmont, with two wins and three seconds from six starts.
“He’s running very, very good, and he’s training very good. He’s ready,” Rodriguez said. “I wish it was a little longer, but we don’t live in a perfect world.”
Ostrolenka is 4 for 6 at Belmont Park, with two of his wins coming at seven furlongs and two at a mile. His only two losses came in races at 6 1/2 furlongs or shorter. He has yet to finish in the money in four wet-track starts.
Weekend Hideaway was making his first start in four months when he won the six-furlong Affirmed Success Stakes here on April 29. In the 2014 Commentator, he was beaten only a length by Zivo.
“A mile is not out of the question on a track that he likes,” said trainer Phil Serpe.
The Critical Eye, also run as a one-turn mile, drew a field of nine led by Quezon and Bar of Gold, who are a combined 5 for 5 on wet tracks.
Quezon, a 4-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful trained by Robert Ribaudo, is 3 for 3 at Belmont, with stakes wins going a mile at age 2 and seven furlongs at age 3. She had a useful prep in March at Gulfstream, winning an open, second-level allowance race by 4 1/4 lengths in the slop. Quezon has fired three bullet works at Belmont since returning from Florida.
“She’s a very aggressive filly; it’s not by design,” Ribaudo said of the quick breezes.
Bar of Gold won her first three races – all against New York-breds and all over wet tracks – before running in seven consecutive graded stakes. She was good enough to run second in the Grade 1 Test to Cavorting. Last out, she finished third behind Paulassilverlining and Cavorting in the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct. Those two horses came back to win stakes in their next start.
Bar of Gold has only tried running beyond seven furlongs twice, finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Acorn and fourth in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks.
“The whole idea is to get her to relax,” trainer John Kimmel said. “Any time we tried to go that extra furlong, she was engaged too early. She’s very quick when you get her on the bridle.”
Haveyougoneaway, a 5-year-old daughter of Congrats, is a three-time open-company stakes winner who takes on New York-breds for the first time. She is 3 for 3 at a mile. Jose Ortiz rides for Tom Morley.