Fri, 06/09/2023 - 12:20

Patience helped get Arcangelo to Belmont Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston

Arcangelo was bought for just $35,000 by owner Jon Ebbert at the 2021 Keeneland yearling sale. Now the Arrogate colt stands a solid chance of winning the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When owner Jon Ebbert bought a son of Arrogate at the 2021 Keeneland yearling sale, he said his vision was to have a horse for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup. How he would get there and would he even be good enough to get there were unknowns.

That son of Arrogate, now named Arcangelo, seems to have charted a different path for himself, Ebbert, and trainer Jena Antonucci. In his fourth career start – and his stakes debut – Arcangelo won the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, a victory that literally helped pay his way to Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 11:18

Kalik, Mission of Joy among 70 still eligible for King's Plate

By Ron Gierkink

Chelsea Durand

Kalik most recently took the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -- Graded stakes winners Kalik and Mission of Joy, along with the reigning Canadian champion male 2-year-old Philip My Dear, are among the 70 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds that remain eligible for the $1 million King’s Plate following an interim payment due June 7.

Trained by Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Kalik burst into Plate contention June 3 with a front-running score in Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on the grass at Belmont, for which he got a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 19:39

Red Carpet Ready will skip rescheduled Jersey Girl Stakes

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Red Carpet Ready (left) bests Munnys Gold to win the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Red Carpet Ready would have been the favorite and horse to beat in the $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes had racing not been canceled Thursday at Belmont Park due to unhealthy air quality. But in light of those circumstances, trainer Rusty Arnold opted not to re-enter her when the six-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies was redrawn Thursday to be run as part of Sunday’s 11-race program.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 13:15

New plan for Nest, Annapolis

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

After an extended break off an Eclipse winning 2022 campaign, Nest will point toward the Grade 2 Shuvee at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, will now target the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes on July 23 at Saratoga for her 3-year-old debut, trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday.

Nest, who has not raced since finishing fourth in the in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, was initially being pointed to the Doubledogdare at Keeneland in April for her return. When she wasn’t ready to make that, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, run Saturday, was the next goal.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 13:08

Plans for First Mission and other Cox stablemates

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

First Mission, second betting choice in the Kentucky Derby, was diagnosed with bone bruising and will rest until late summer or early fall.

First Mission, who was scratched from the Preakness due to an issue with his left hind leg, was diagnosed with a minor case of bone bruising and is getting 60 days off, trainer Brad Cox said.

“It was very minor, didn’t expect it to be much,” said Cox, who added First Mission is on the farm in Kentucky.

First Mission had won two of three starts including the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes. He was made the 5-2 second choice on the morning-line for the Preakness behind Kentucky Derby winner Mage before he was scratched the day before the race.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 10:54

Belmont Stakes trainers unfazed by Thursday track closure

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Todd Pletcher has two of the Belmont favorites in Forte and Tapit Trice.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Horsemen with runners in Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes did not seem overly upset they were unable to train their horses Thursday at Belmont Park.

Due to the poor air quality conditions in the New York area stemming from the wind-blown smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday evening that it had canceled training for Thursday at both Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 10:05

With financing in place, Belmont Park reconstruction planning hits high gear

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Work is well under way on the infield. NYRA CEO David O’Rourke is placing an emphasis on green space at the new Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though the funding mechanism is now in place to construct a new Belmont Park, there is still much to be learned about the project. When could construction begin, what does it entail, and what will it look like when it’s done?

Some answers could be forthcoming as early as August when the New York Racing Association hopes to reveal plans to the Franchise Oversight Board, a monitoring body put in place years ago by the state to oversee NYRA’s business practices.

Thu, 06/08/2023 - 09:08

Belmont cancels Thursday card due to air quality

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Belmont Park has canceled racing on Thursday due to poor air quality.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Thursday’s live racing program at Belmont Park was canceled due to the air-quality issue impacting the Northeast from the Canadian wildfires, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday morning.

NYRA is hopeful that racing – and training – will be able to resume Friday, when conditions are expected to improve. Belmont has an 11-race card Friday with five stakes races. First post Friday is 12:50 p.m.

Of course, Saturday is Belmont Stakes Day with an 11-race program including nine stakes that begins at 11:20 a.m.

Wed, 06/07/2023 - 19:23

Training canceled Thursday at Belmont, Saratoga due to air quality

By David Grening

ELMONT, N.Y. – Training Thursday at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course has been canceled due to poor air-quality conditions forecast to continue to impact New York state overnight and into Thursday morning, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday evening.

Training hours at Belmont Park are from 5:30-10:30 a.m. and at Saratoga from 5:30-11 a.m.

Tue, 06/06/2023 - 16:08

Cody's Wish to risk win streak in Met Mile on Belmont Stakes undercard

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Cody's Wish works on Sunday. He has won five straight races, including three consecutive Grade 1s.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Belmont Park undercard leading up to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes figures to be just as compelling and entertaining as the main event itself and offers eight graded stakes, five of them Grade 1’s, topped by the $1 million Metropolitan Mile.

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