Sharp Azteca will give significant weight to Kelso rivals

ELMONT, N.Y. – Sharp Azteca was assigned high weight of 124 pounds and will be giving significant weight to what will likely be five or six rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

Sharp Azteca, trained by Jorge Navarro, is coming off a 7 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 30, his second win from four starts this year and sixth from 13 overall. Last Saturday, Sharp Azteca worked five furlongs in 1:00.01, the fastest of 19 works at the distance over the Belmont main track.

Sharp Azteca will be conceding seven pounds to Divining Rod and Tommy Macho and eight pounds to Bird Song, Matt King Coal and Ross. Also under consideration for the race is Weekend Hideaway, who was assigned 114 pounds.

On Sunday, at Saratoga, Bird Song worked five furlongs in 1:02.43 over the Oklahoma training track. Trainer Ian Wilkes skipped the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on Sept. 2 with Bird Song to point him for the Kelso, and said Monday he’s glad he did.

“I’m very happy with the way he’s doing right now,” Wilkes said.

Wilkes had trained Bird Song with blinkers a few times since his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 29, but said Monday he will not use them in the Kelso.

“I don’t think it’s the best thing for him,” Wilkes said.

On Monday at Belmont, Weekend Hideaway worked five furlongs in 59 seconds over the main track. His trainer, Phil Serpe, said the Kelso is under consideration, but added the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Sept. 30 is a more likely spot for him.