ELMONT, N.Y. – Fore Left, winner of the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas in Dubai in his last start, will be re-routed from Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens to the $1 million Belmont Stakes, trainer Doug O’Neill said Tuesday.
Fore Left, a son of Twirling Candy owned by Paul Reddam, adds some pace to the Belmont, which this year will be run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn. He will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who won the 2017 Belmont aboard Tapwrit.
Owners will not be permitted to attend Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the New York Racing Association said Monday afternoon.
There were discussions held between the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission about allowing a limited number of owners connected with each Belmont Stakes horse on the grounds Saturday, but it was ultimately determined that there would not be enough time to implement additional health and safety protocols for that to happen.
ELMONT, N.Y. – In the days following Max Player’s victory in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 at Aqueduct, while many were starting to talk Kentucky Derby, trainer Linda Rice seemed more excited about the Belmont Stakes.
She believed Max Player could be one of the rare individuals that would relish the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont. Moreover, she believed with racing and time, Max Player could improve to the point where he’d be better prepared to tackle the upper echelon of the 3-year-old division, or at least those who were left following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Indimaaj, who extended the even-money Blue Buff before finishing a game second over a sloppy track May 24, will likely be favored to defeat seven rivals in Wednesday’s $47,000 allowance and optional-claiming feature, carded at one mile on the main track.
Indimaaj overcame an awkward beginning to slip through along the rail and engage Blue Bluff in early stretch, finishing nearly six lengths clear of third-place finisher Colonel Liam. The victory was the fourth in a row for Blue Buff.
Flora Fantasy extended her winning streak to five in a row to kick off her 2020 campaign with a rail-skimming 4 3/4-length triumph in Sunday’s ninth race. The 6-year-old daughter of Cowtown Cat has fashioned the streak for four different trainers while having proven a popular item at the claim box.
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has some key decisions to make regarding the future itineraries of his Kentucky Derby-bound 3-year-old Ny Traffic and Kentucky Oaks-bound 3-year-old filly Tonalist’s Shape, with the pair sharing top billing on Sunday’s work tab at Gulfstream Park.
Delaware Park in Stanton, Del., is set to open its rescheduled 2020 meet on Wednesday with full fields for a 10-race card and plans to welcome spectators ontrack.
Delayed three weeks because of the widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening of Delaware’s meet has coincided with the lifting of some restrictions designed to mitigate the spread of the virus in the state, allowing the track to open its gates to spectators. The track’s casino, which provides subsidies for purses, has been open for two weeks, at reduced hours and capacity.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey David Cohen escaped serious injury Sunday at Churchill when his mount, Magic Star, abruptly jumped into the inner hedge of the turf course heading into the clubhouse turn.
Magic Star, a Grade 3 winner last year for the Don Alberto Stable and trainer Chad Brown, was racing in midpack alongside the hedge in the eighth race when she made the bizarre leap. No other horses or riders were affected.
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