Joe Labozzetta Photo

Arrest Me Red makes the grade in G3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational

by Keith McCalmont

Lael Stables’ homebred Arrest Me Red led gate-to-wire to capture Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, a six-furlong inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Wesley Ward and aggressively handled from post 2 by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Arrest Me Red was sent straight to the front through splits of 22.33 seconds and 45.75 over the firm footing with Guildsman pressing in second position.

Pulsate, with Manny Franco up, loomed large through the turn with the Eric Cancel-piloted Chewing Gum also ranging in contention, but Arrest Me Red continued to find more at the top of the lane and stayed on strong for a one-length win in a final time of 1:07.86. Pulsate completed the exacta by three-quarters of a length over Chewing Gum.

The victory marked the third Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational win for Ortiz, Jr. following scores with Disco Partner in 2017-18.

“He relaxed so well. He did everything right, honestly,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “He broke well from the gate, and I just stayed quiet and relaxed. I was on the front, so I just was biding my time to go. He was travelling perfectly and when I asked him to run, he responded really well. Wesley did a great job with him. He’s a great guy to ride for.”

Arrest Me Red was sent to post as the 2-1 mutuel favorite out of a neck score in the 5 1/2-furlong Mahony, contested over firm turf on August 11 at Saratoga Race Course in his first start for Ward.

The 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile bay made his first four starts for trainer Arnaud Delacour, which included a score in the six-furlong Atlantic Beach in November on firm turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Rounding out the order of finish were Backtohisroots, Therapist, Guildsman and Buy Land and See. Piedi Bianchi and Belgrano were scratched.

A Kentucky homebred, Arrest Me Red banked $110,000 in victory while improving his record to four wins from six starts. He paid $6.60 for a $2 win wager.

Live racing returns Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card featuring the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette [Race 9], a one-turn mile for 2-year-old fillies offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim [Race 4], a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles; and the Grade 3, $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya [Race 8], an 11-furlong inner turf test for fillies and mares. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.