Toast of New York faces hurdles in Belmont Derby
ELMONT, N.Y. – He has a catchy name and a solid résumé, but Toast of New York has several questions to answer as the potential favorite in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational on the turf at Belmont Park.
Toast of New York, an England-based, Kentucky-bred son of the low-profile stallion Thewayyouare, has not raced since March 29, has never won on turf, and is facing undoubtedly the toughest field he’s met. Further, he might have to run on ground his connections think would not be to his liking if the expected heavy rains fall Thursday into Friday.[bc_video_id:329082:]
Toast of New York will meet 10 opponents in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby, a race formerly run here in the fall and known as the Jamaica. The Belmont Derby tops a five-stakes, 10-race program that includes the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational; the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban Handicap; the Grade 3, $400,000 Belmont Sprint Invitational; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes. The Belmont Derby is the penultimate leg of a late pick four wager with a guaranteed pool of $500,000.
In his only start this year, Toast of New York won the UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles over Meydan’s synthetic course in Dubai. Trainer Jamie Osborne ruled out the Kentucky Derby and said he “chickened out” of the Epsom Derby and focused on this race.
That Toast of New York is coming off a 98-day layoff is not a concern to Osborne, who noted that Toast of New York won the UAE Derby off a 148-day layoff. Osborne did concede that the quality of the UAE Derby field is suspect.
“Yes, it was worth $1.2 million, but there is a part of me that says it was probably the worst $1.2 million race in the world, and there could be an element of that,” Osborne said Thursday at Belmont Park. “All I can say is however good a horse he was that day, he’s a better horse today.”
While Osborne sees bringing a fresh horse into this race as an advantage, he said soft turf would be disadvantageous to his horse. Saturday’s forecast is gorgeous, but there was some rain Wednesday night and more forecast Thursday night and into Friday. On Thursday, Osborne walked the turf course before Toast of New York galloped over it.
“Having walked on it today, clearly it’s going to take a lot of rain to turn it that slow,” Osborne said. “That’s nice ground. If it’s something like that on Saturday, I’ll be happy.”
Adelaide, Pornichet, and Gailo Chop are other European-based runners who were lured here by the $1.25 million purse.
Adelaide, trained by Aidan O’Brien, won a Group 3 at The Curragh in Ireland in May and finished second to the impressive Eagle Top in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot in England just two weeks ago.
“It was a good-enough run to give him a shot at this race,” said T.J. Comerford, assistant to O’Brien. “The distance is perfect; ground won’t be a bother.”
Less than three weeks ago, the Australian-based owner-trainer Gai Waterhouse purchased Pornichet out of a sale in Europe. Pornichet, third in a Group 1 at Longchamp in France last out, will get blinkers and Lasix for this race. He worked six furlongs on both Tuesday and Thursday here, going easily in 1:20.40 on Thursday after going in 1:16 on Tuesday.
“He’s set now and looks in great order,” said Adrian Bott, racing manager for Waterhouse. “Physically, his condition has held up really well from the trip.”Bott said that exercise rider Rachel King believes Pornichet has “put on some nice condition since being over here, so he’s settled in well.”Gailo Chop has won four consecutive races, including a pair of Group 3 events at Longchamp.
The American-based contingent is led by Gala Award, Flamboyant, and Bobby’s Kitten. Gala Award beat Flamboyant – formerly based in France – by a head in the Pennine Ridge here May 26. Gala Award got jostled a bit at the top of the stretch and was passed by Flamboyant before coming back on.
Bobby’s Kitten might be the most talented of the American runners, but his headstrong ways make him a question mark at 1 1/4 miles. Trainer Chad Brown felt the horse settled well enough in the Penn Mile, a race he won by 2 3/4 lengths over fellow Belmont Derby runner Global View.
Completing the field are Dance With Fate, the Grade 1 Blue Grass winner; Mr Speaker, the Grade 3 Lexington winner; and maiden winner Sheldon.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Sheldon. Trainer James Toner is 5 for 16 with a $5.20 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with horses that won their maiden in their prior start.Click for more details. – Dan Illman
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