Versatile Caroline St. Beat seems comfortable on any surface

ELMONT, N.Y. – Whether he’s running back in eight months or eight days, Caroline St. Beat has fired each time he’s raced. Trainer Miguel Clement believes Caroline St. Beat’s best remains in front of him.

If he takes a step forward Saturday, Caroline St. Beat looms the horse to beat in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles over Belmont Park’s inner turf course.

Caroline St. Beat, a New York-bred son of Tiz the Law, won twice in eight days this summer, winning a New York-bred allowance on Aug. 29 at Saratoga and coming back the following Saturday to win the Grade 2, $1.8 million Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs.

Now, Kentucky Downs form doesn’t always translate elsewhere, but Caroline St. Beat has performed well at Aqueduct and Saratoga, so he’s not a one-track pony. With only five races under his belt, Caroline St. Beat has more to give, Clement believes.

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“He’s full of life, he’s King Kong. Life’s a big game for him, and there’s still plenty of improvement to be found,” Clement said. “I think he’s very talented.”

Caroline St. Beat got a dream trip in the Nashville Derby, sitting inside before tipping out to the two path in the lane and running by Saratoga Derby winner Glacius to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Manny Franco rides Caroline St. Beat from post 6 in this nine-horse field.

The Hill Prince drew a modest group, including Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby winner Lennox the Grey, Saranac winner Heeere’s Johnny, and Jersey Derby winner Third Coast.

Perhaps value can be had in recent allowance winner Print. This son of Munnings, trained by Robert Ribaudo, is coming off an allowance win at Saratoga that came four weeks after he finished fourth behind Bottas in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga. Bottas, trained by Clement, came back to win the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Print had a little trouble at the start of the Hall of Fame. He came with a wide, albeit mild, bid in the lane and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths. Print has not won beyond 1 1/16 miles, but the bottom side of his pedigree suggests he can stretch out. His dam, Promotional, won twice at 1 3/8 miles, and Print is a half-brother to Daunt, who also won at 1 3/8 miles even though he was just 2 for 36 in his career.

“I don’t think distance should be an issue,” Ribaudo said.

Lennox the Grey, trained by Arnaud Delacour, was able to set soft fractions when winning the Old Dominion Derby. He figures to have a little company Saturday with recent maiden winner Protect and Defend and Versailles Road likely being forward factors.

A quick pace would assist Heeere’s Johnny, who is just 1 for 10 but did win the Saranac in August rallying from last at Saratoga for Ray Handal.

Third Coast finished fifth in the Hall of Fame Stakes and came back to run second to front-running Siyouincanada in the Gio Ponti on Sept. 7. at Saratoga.

Bricks and Mortar

Woodbine-based trainer Kevin Attard is expected to have a string at New York for the winter, looking to take advantage of Belmont’s new Tapeta track that will be the exclusive surface for winter racing beginning Dec. 10.

Saturday, Attard hopes to familiarize himself with the Belmont winner’s circle when he runs Two Out Hero in the $175,000 Bricks and Mortar Stakes at seven furlongs on the outer turf course. This is the first running of the Bricks and Mortar, named for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and Horse of the Year, who never ran shorter than one mile.

Two Out Hero is coming off a second-place finish at odds of 26-1 behind Take Charge Star in the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson Stakes on Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs.

“I thought he ran well, thought we had a good shot. He outran his odds,” Attard said. “I was happy with Two Out Hero’s race. He got beat by a better horse. On paper, if he brings back his last race, that should put him in the hunt. I’m heading down there with some expectations.”

There does look to be ample pace in the race, with Intricate Spirit, Six O Clock, and Iron Palace in the field.

Doubting Thomas, trained by Michael Trombetta, is turning back to seven furlongs after a sixth-place finish in the Gio Ponti going a two-turn mile at Saratoga. Learntodiscover won the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes from last at Saratoga.

Proton, trained by Graham Motion, has finished behind Doubting Thomas the last two times they’ve met.

Big Destroyer and Feline Curious round out the field.

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