Fri, 06/07/2013 - 18:50

Belmont: Calidoscopio comes from far back to win Brooklyn

Barbara D. Livingston
Calidoscopio (left) makes up a 22-length deficit in the final quarter-mile under Aaron Gryder to overtake pacesetter Percussion in the Brooklyn Handicap.

ELMONT, N.Y.  - Reprising his last-to-first victory in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon last fall, the 10-year-old Calidoscopio made up 22 lengths in the final half-mile under Aaron Gryder to win Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap at soggy Belmont Park.

 Percussion, who made all the pace under John Velazquez, had to settle for second, five lengths ahead of Fast Falcon. Keep Me Informed, Ruler On Ice, Flashy Sunrise, Birdrun, and Quick Casablanca completed the order of finish.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 18:38

Belmont Stakes: Revolutionary slightly favored in early betting

Barbara D. Livingston
Revolutionary ran third to Orb in the Kentucky Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. - With very little money in the win pool, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Revolutionary was a slight favorite over Kentucky Derby winner Orb following Friday's early wagering on Saturday's 145th Belmont Stakes. Both horses were listed at 5-2.

[BELMONT STAKES: Live updates and video from Belmont Park]

There was only $39,552 in the win pool, encompassing money bet ontrack at Belmont, at Aqueduct, and through NYRA Rewards as well as at Fort Erie in Canada and through Twin Spires.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 18:34

Belmont Park: Albertrani runs 1-2 in Jaipur Stakes despite DQ

Barbara D. Livingston
Souper Speedy (left) and Big Screen battle to the wire in the Grade 3 Jaipur. Big Screen finished first but was disqualified.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Tom Albertrani was praying for rain this weekend at Belmont Park – not only for Freedom Child in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes but to force Friday’s $150,000 Jaipur Stakes from the turf to the main track, a switch in venue that would give him two big opportunities to win the Grade 3 fixture with Big Screen and Souper Speedy.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 18:29

Orb big favorite in Brooklyn-Belmont daily double

ELMONT, N.Y. - There was $755,681 wagered into the Brooklyn-Belmont Stakes daily double wager. The $2 will pays, combining Brooklyn winner  No. 4 Calidoscopio ($17) with the Belmont runners are:

1. Frac Daddy $799
2. Freedom Child $129
3. Overanalyze $182
4. Giant Finish $800
5. Orb $44
6. Incognito $342
7. Oxbow $241
8. Midnight Taboo $828
9. Revolutionary $102
10. Will Take Charge $430
11. Vyjack $403
12. Palace Malice $242
13. Unlimited Budget $235
14. Golden Soul $171

 

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 17:11

Lone Star Park notes: Arguello making fresh start

Jockey Fabio Arguello Jr., on Friday was traveling from his home in Louisville, Ky., to Texas to make something of a fresh career start. In a major circuit move, he plans to ride the remainder of the Lone Star Park meet that runs into July and continue to remain in the region for the Remington Park meet in Oklahoma City and the Oaklawn Park season in Arkansas.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 17:04

Emerald Downs: Wenzel's stable unsurpassed when it comes to quality runners

AUBURN, Wash. – Tom Wenzel has reached a delicious sweet spot in his training career. While Wenzel, 47, probably won’t threaten for the training title at Emerald Downs this summer, he boasts at least one bona-fide stakes runner in every division and could run away with the more important earnings title. Beyond that, Wenzel could threaten Doris Harwood’s track record of 12 stakes victories in a single meeting.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 16:46

Belmont Park: Royal Lahaina upsets Mariensky Stakes over a sloppy, sealed track

Katherine A. Turnbull
Royal Lahaina pulls away late in the Mariensky Stakes under jockey Jose Ortiz.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Royal Lahaina, the longest shot on the board, came from just off the pace and then out-battled Sure Route down the stretch to win the $100,000 Mariensky Stakes on a sloppy, sealed track on Friday at Belmont Park.

Fri, 06/07/2013 - 16:45

Belmont Stakes: Muddy track may improve to fast by post time

Barbara D. Livingston
On Friday the Belmont Park track was extremely sloppy. By the time the storm moved out of the area at 4 a.m. Saturday, 3 1/2 inches of rain had fallen.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After 3 1/2 inches of rain pelted Belmont Park over a 24-hour period, the main track was to begin as muddy and sealed, but track officials are hopeful the surface could be fast by post time for the 145th Belmont Stakes.

“I’m pretty confident that we’ll be wet fast by then,” said Glen Kozak, the New York Racing Association’s vice president of facilities and racing surfaces. “If we get real lucky, we’ll be fast.”

First post for Saturday’s 13-race card is 11:35 a.m. Eastern. Post time for the Belmont is 6:36 p.m.