Belmont Park Notes 10.23.16

by NYRA Press Office

• Keen Ice works for possible BC Classic bid; Curalina fires bullet
• Royal Posse looks towards Gulfstream following Empire Classic win
• Bar of Gold in good order following 18-length Empire Distaff win, targets Go For Wand
• Fields coming together for closing weekend stakes

Donegal Racing's Keen Ice is under serious consideration for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 5 at Santa Anita, said trainer Todd Pletcher following a six-furlong breeze over the training track Sunday morning at Belmont Park.

Keen Ice was ridden in the breeze by Javier Castellano, who was aboard the son of Curlin in his allowance comeback race earlier this month as well as his victory over American Pharaoh in the 2015 Travers. The pair worked three-quarters in 1:13.03, finishing on even terms with workmate Tommy Macho.

Pletcher caught Keen Ice galloping out seven-eighths in 1:26 and a mile in 1:39 4/5.

"I thought it was good. It seemed like the further he went the stronger he got," said Pletcher. "Javier had to reach up and really pull him up at the end. I think we got what we were hoping to get out of it."

It was the second work for the 4-year-old colt since he finished third in an allowance optional claiming race on October 7, his first start in more than six months following his eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March.

Pletcher indicated that as long as the colt emerges from the work in good order, he will talk with Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing and will likely pre-enter Keen Ice into the Classic on Monday.

"My impression, talking to Jerry, is that everyone is on board to pre-enter and take a look at it," he said. "The real key for him is that he's proven that he wants a mile and a quarter and what he needs is a legitimate pace in front of him and it certainly looks like this race could offer that. Obviously, it's a very difficult race to win but the pace scenario and distance could suit him."

The jockey assignment will still need to be decided, Pletcher noted, as Castellano could already have a Classic mount aboard Grade 1 Woodward victor Shaman Ghost.

Earlier in the morning, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina wrapped up her serious preparations for the Breeders' Cup, turning in a half-mile bullet work on the training track in company with 2016 Grade 2 Fountain of Youth runner-up Zulu.

The 4-year-old Curlin filly, who has been training up to the Breeders' Cup since her runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 27, breezed four furlongs in 59.59 seconds, the fastest of 15 at the distance.

"She's always been a good workhorse," said Pletcher. "A lot of times, we don't work her in company because she does things pretty willingly on her own, but for today's work we wanted to make sure we got a good, solid work. This is her most significant breeze leading into it and we wanted to make sure she got a good one and she certainly did."

Curalina galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27, according to Pletcher's watch, finally pulling up after a mile in 1:44 and change. Third in last year's Distaff, Curalina will be pre-entered in the $2 million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles as well as the seven-furlong, $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint

"It gave me confidence that she's in excellent form," Pletcher said, "and it puts her in a position that we can feel comfortable that she's ready to go a mile and an eighth off a little bit of freshening and sharp enough that, if we decide to go seven-eighths, she could do that as well."

Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile hopeful Syndergaard made his first appearance on the worktab since finishing a close second to Practical Joke in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 8.

A New York-bred son of Majesticperfection, Syndergaard breezed five furlongs with John Velazquez aboard in company with 2-year-old maiden Kahramani, covering the distance over the training track in 1:00.80. As for pre-entries into the Juvenile, Syndergaard will be joined by Grade 3 Futurity winner Theory, said Pletcher.

Rounding out Pletcher's Breeders' Cup workers on Sunday morning were Grade 1 Spinaway dead-heat winner Sweet Loretta ($2 million Breeders' Cup 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies), who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 in her first local work since arriving from Saratoga last week; Made You Look and J. S. Choice ($1 million Juvenile Turf), who worked four furlongs in company on the dirt in 50.22; and Grade 1 First Lady heroine Photo Call, who will be pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Mile and Filly & Mare Turf, worked a half-mile in 49.23.

Longines Breeders' Cup Turf hopeful Ectot, who punched his ticket to the $4 million with a five-length win over Flintshire in the Grade 1, $1 million Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, is on schedule to breeze Monday on the turf.
 

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Royal Posse looked good after winning Saturday's $300,000 Empire Classic, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said on Sunday. The 5-year-old bay gelding carried the high weight of 122 in the handicap and still cruised to a 3 ½-length victory in the crown jewel of Belmont Park's Empire Showcase Day, notching his third straight win.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Gary Aisquith and Bethlehem Stables, Royal Posse has finished first or second in 14 straight starts dating to May 2015. 

"He's a good horse," Rodriguez said. "He looks happy and he's training good. Right now, we just have to keep him healthy."

Rodriguez said Royal Posse could look to defend his title in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel on December 3 at Gulfstream Park.

Bonita Bianca improved to 2-for-2 in her career after winning her stakes debut in the $250,000 Maid of the Mist. The 2-year-old, also owned by Dubb, Michael Imperio and Bethlehem Stables, stayed close to the pace before surging to a 5 ¼-length score in the nine-horse field.

"They all look like they come out of it OK," Rodriguez said. "We'll give it a couple of days, but so far, good."

The Belmont fall meet has been kind to Rodriguez, who entered Sunday with 26 wins in 92 starts, amassing almost $1.7 million in earnings. He racked up 10 wins from October 14-22, including a four-win day on October 16 in which Mcllroy, Blame Jim, Arella Rockstar and Splashtastic all visited the winner's circle. Rodriguez credited his owners and his brother and assistant, Gustavo, for playing a major role in the successful meet.

"It's great that hard work pays off, and it's extra special that I have my brother here," Rodriguez said. "We manage all the horses together nice, and we've been blessed with the owners. We've been very lucky."
 

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Bar of Gold came out of her win in the $250,000 Empire Distaff well, trainer John Kimmel reported Sunday morning at Belmont Park. A 4-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro and out of 2010 Grade 3 Herecomesthebride winner Khancord Kid, Bar of Gold romped to an 18-length victory going 1 1/16 miles for the first time since the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in July 2015. 

"She came out in good order," Kimmel said. "It was a dominating performance. It was nice to see. We always had some questions about her ability to go further. She has the pedigree, but sometimes, when she's been allowed to have too fast of an early pace, she couldn't sustain it."

Kimmel credited jockey Joel Rosario with Bar of Gold winning for the first time since capturing the Critical Eye on May 30 at Belmont. Rosario piloted her to a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters on September 19.

"I think Joel has found a good relationship where he's gotten her to settle," Kimmel said. "When she's gotten a chance to settle, she's shown she can really kick, so that's satisfying for me. 

"She would have performed well against anybody yesterday," he added. "She seemed to handle an off-racetrack well enough. She's going to get her day. The combination of an added distance and a patient ride will pay off at some point in graded stakes races."

Kimmel said Bar of Gold could target the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap, at one mile, on December 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
 

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Fields for Belmont Park's final stakes of the 2016 Fall meet are beginning to take shape as closing weekend edges ever so near, highlighted by the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler for 3-year-olds and up and Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares on Saturday.

The 41st running of the Bold Ruler is expected to feature a contentious field highlighted by the return of Economic Model for trainer Chad Brown and owners William Lawerence and Klaravich Stables. 

A 3-year-old son of Flatter, Economic Model captured the Easy Goer on June 11 at Belmont followed by a pair of second-place finishes in last two starts in the Grade 3 Dyer Stakes on July 9 at Belmont and on August 27 at Saratoga in the Grade 1 King's Bishop.

Stallwalkin' Dude is also likely to enter for owner and trainer David Jacobson. The 6-year-old is coming off a narrow defeat on October 1 at Belmont in which he lost to Breeders' Cup Sprint entrant Joking in the Grade 1 Vosburgh. Cadeyrn, who has won back-to-back allowance races at Saratoga and Belmont in his last two starts,is also probable for trainer Jeremiah Englehart and owner Tom O'Brady. Also expected are Threefiveindia,Liberty Holiday, Ami's Flatter, Dannie's Deceiverand Gentrify. Always Sunshine and Green Gratto are possible.

The Turnback the Alarm looks to see the return of multiple graded stakes winnerLewis Bay for Alpha Delta Stable and trainer Chad Brown. Godolphin will look to enter a pair with Penwith,trained by Kiaran McLaughin and who most recently finished third in the Grade 1 Beldame on October 1, and Innovative Idea from the barn of trainer Eoin Harty. Coffee Pot Stables' Flora Dora is expected as well and should look to rebound from an off-the-board allowance finish on September 15. Also probable are StarLadies Racing's Eskenformoney for trainer Todd Pletcher and Rachel's Temper for Newtownnanner Farm and trainer Charlton Baker. Grupo Seven C Racing Stables' Linda Mimi is possible.

Rounding out Saturday's stakes action is the $100,000 Awad for 2-year-olds at a mile on the Widener turf is likely to attract Berks County, Bookew Bucks,Frostmourne, Heaven Is Waiting, Hot and Heavy, Royal by Nature andUndulated. Harlan's Harmony is possible.

Expected for the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie for fillies and mares at six furlongs areFusaichi Red, Momameamaria, Let's Parlay, Disco Chick and Stonetastic.

Rounding out the stakes on closing weekend is the $100,000 Chelsey Flower for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on the Widener turf. About that Base, Beat the Benchmark, Chubby Star, Create a Dream, Joust, Little Miss Amy, Old Line Gal, Out of Trouble, Sensitive, Warrior Hall and Yorkiepoo Princess are expected. Balayage and Bellavais are possible.