Weekend Hideaway tepid favorite in wide-open Affirmed Success

ELMONT, N.Y. – If all the stakes races this summer shape up as competitive as the $100,000 Affirmed Success on Friday’s opening-day card at Belmont Park, it will be one heck of a meet.

The Affirmed Success, restricted to New York-bred sprinters, drew a field of 13. Though not all are expected to start, it still looks like a highly competitive race. Weekend Hideaway, the 4-1 morning-line favorite on Eric Donovan’s line, won last year’s Affirmed Success at odds of 5-1 and may rate a slight favorite in his second start off a layoff.

But the 7-year-old drew the outside post and is the co-highweight at 124 pounds. He, Candid Desire, and Sudden Surprise will each spot six pounds to the remainder of the field.

The Affirmed Success could be ripe for chaos – as in Celtic Chaos. The 4-year-old Celtic Chaos has yet to win a stakes, but the late-running colt is in good form and should get the pace scenario that will allow him to show his best.

Eye Luv Lulu, Marriedtothemusic, and Rectify all have good early speed and are drawn in the first three post positions.

Kiaran McLaughlin, the trainer of Celtic Chaos, said that while the large field is a concern, “if there’s a ton of pace that’s all that matters.”

Three starts back, Celtic Chaos missed winning the Hollie Hughes at Aqueduct, finishing a neck behind Candid Desire, who is in this field. Candid Desire most recently finished fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Eye Luv Lulu.

Trainer David Jacobson entered the trio of Ostrolenka, Awesome Gent, and West Hills Giant, but said he is likely to scratch West Hills Giant.

Affirmed Success, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Celtic Chaos, by Dublin

Last 3 Beyers: 85-95-91

◗ Though six furlongs could be a tad short, he should get ample pace to close into and he has run his two best Beyer Speed Figures this year.

“Eric Cancel has been riding him well, keeping him a little bit closer, not so far back,” McLaughlin said. “He’s figured him out.”

Weekend Hideaway, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 90-74-92

◗ He is running in this race for the fourth consecutive year. Won this race last year off a four-month layoff.

◗ In his lone start this year, he finished third in a seven-furlong allowance in which Clearly Now set a Gulfstream Park track record of 1:20.17 for seven furlongs.

◗ Though Weekend Hideaway is now 7 and has made 37 starts, trainer Phil Serpe doesn’t see age catching up to him.

“I would imagine somewhere along the line it’s going to happen,” Serpe said. “Right now I don’t see it.”

Marriedtothemusic, by Disco Rico

Last 3 Beyers: 96-57-84

◗ If there’s a horse that could wire this field, it might be him. Has a history of breaking poorly, including in this race in 2014 which he won despite a lunging start.