Belmont Park Notes 5.11.18

by Heather Pettinger

• Mind Your Biscuits breezes sharp half-mile to prep for G1 Met Mile
• ‘Less is more’ for G3 Peter Pan contender Blended Citizen
• My Impression ‘on the right track’ ahead of G3 Beaugay
• A field of five will face off in Sunday’s $100,000 Gold Fever
• Facebook Live stream of Man o’ War Day; What's happening this weekend

New York-bred Horse of the Year Mind Your Biscuits, winner of the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 31, turned in his first workout at Belmont Park since returning from a few weeks of freshening at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, and is pointing to the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap, one of six Grade 1 stakes on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard on Saturday, June 9.

The son of Posse worked four furlongs in 46.98 seconds over Belmont’s main track on Friday morning with jockey Joel Rosario in the irons. The sharp work, a bit faster than what trainer Chad Summers had planned was enough to confirm that the all-time leading money earning New York-bred is on top of his game.

“He wanted to do something for the last couple of days, so I figured he was going to work faster than maybe what we were looking for,” Summers said. “But he did it on his own. He was in the four path. He’s probably better now than he’s ever been, which is a scary thought.”

The multiple graded stakes winner, who captured his second Golden Shaheen victory in two years, remained at Meydan Racecourse for a week after his thrilling last-to-first storming stretch run which put him a head in front at the wire. The 5-year-old then flew to Chicago before vanning to Maryland.

“The extra week in Dubai made a world of difference,” said Summers. “Going over to Fair Hill, they did a great job over there. I mean he couldn’t be doing any better right now. This is probably the best he’s ever been.

“I was joking the other day that I may just have to enter him in the Runhappy because he’s doing so good, and the way he breezed this morning, he might have won the Runhappy off of no works, but it’s just one of those things,” he continued. “The Met Mile is five weeks away, we’ve got three more works which gives us plenty of time and it looks like the field will start taking place. We’re happy to be there.”

The next start for Mind Your Biscuits will be a sentimental one for Summers, who trains for a partnership that includes the Summers family, M.E. Kisber, J Stable and Head of Plains Partners.

“The Met Mile is probably my favorite race of all time. It’s just one of those things where I just absolutely love that race. To win that race it would mean a lot, to just kind of add to the legacy of what he is as a New York bred. It would be pretty cool to win that race.”

Mind Your Biscuits, who owns victories in the Grade 2 Amsterdam, Grade 1 Malibu, and Grade 2 Belmont Sprint Championship, gets billing as being a sprinter, but the starter of 21 career races can go farther if needed, said Summers.

“I don’t think he gets the respect going a mile,” he said. “If all the horses show up that say they’re going to show up in the race, we might be the third-choice on the morning line. I don’t care, we’ve been a longshot our whole lives, so it doesn’t make a difference.

“We’ll see,” added Summers. “Met Mile is a big day; its Belmont Stakes Day. I would be shocked if there’s not a Triple Crown on the line, there will be 90,000 people here. Justify might win the Triple Crown, and hopefully we’ll give them something to remember too.”

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‘Less is more’ for G3 Peter Pan contender Blended Citizen

Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Blended Citizen has acclimated well to his new surroundings at Belmont Park ahead of Saturday’s Grade 3, $350,000 Peter Pan, said Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, on Friday.

The sophomore Proud Citizen colt was redirected from the Kentucky Derby also-eligible list when he didn’t get into the body of the race last Friday and arrived in New York on Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan, the traditional local prep for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 9.

The Peter Pan will be the 10th career start over six different tracks for Blended Citizen, who finished a promising third in the El Camino Real Derby on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in February before posting a neck victory in the Jeff Ruby on March 17 over Turfway Park’s Polytrack surface. He was a late-running fifth last time out in the Grade 2 Blue Grass, beaten 4 ¾ lengths by Good Magic.

“Fortunately, this horse takes his talents with him,” said Sisterson. “He normally ships well and runs well wherever he goes. He’s been exposed to a lot. He has experience in his favor and we expect a really good performance. We’re going to lead him over with a lot of confidence. There’s no excuses come Saturday.”

Sisterson added that a strong effort this weekend could move Blended Citizen towards a start in the 1 ½-mile Belmont, the last and longest race of the Triple Crown.

“Of all the tracks in America, we’ve thought that Belmont would suit him the best,” he said. “He’s such a big horse with a big stride, he only gets going the last half-mile or so. He should be finishing up pretty good with the big, sweeping turns here. We’re excited to run him. The ultimate goal is the Belmont with him. We think the distance wouldn’t be any problem for him.”

Owned by Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing, Blended Citizen wrapped up his major work for the Peter Pan at Churchill Downs, working six furlongs in 1:16 on Derby morning, and has maintained his normal pre-race schedule since arriving at Belmont.

“With good-minded horses like him, he goes to the gate good and settles well, so we don’t throw extra things at them in the morning and get them off routine,” said Sisterson. “He’s a well-behaved colt and we don’t have to do anything with him. As with most horses when we ship them, we try to keep to the regular routine. We train them at the same time, keep the same equipment and everything. Less is more.”

Blended Citizen, at 6-1 on the morning line, will be ridden by Kyle Frey from post 4.

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My Impression ‘on the right track’ ahead of G3 Beaugay

Stuart S. Janney’s 5-year-old Grade 3 winner My Impression will make her second start of the year in Saturday’s Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf after beginning the year with a lackluster performance in the Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct on April 14. 

The daughter of Sky Mesa checked in with a disappointing fourth-place effort amid a field of five while making her 18th career start for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“I was just blown away with the way she ran the first time,” McGaughey said. “I think we needed to knock the dust off her a little bit. I thought she was probably farther along than she was. She’d been at Payson [Park in Florida], and I’ve had some other horses that have kind of done the same thing. She’s trained good since then, and I thought she galloped this morning as good as I’ve seen her gallop.”

My Impression, who ended her 2017 campaign with a tight third-place finish in the Forever Together at Aqueduct on November 25, suffered another tough beat previously in the Grade 3 Athenia, where she finished a neck behind Off Limits as the runner-up.

Both near-misses came after her win in the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs on September 6 over a turf course labelled good. A little southern freshening was prescribed for the winner of six career starts after he last start, and could prove the difference on Saturday.

“I sent her down to Fair Hill after she ran the last time,” said McGaughey, who is looking for his third Beaugay victory after winning with Duty Dance (1986), and Criminologist (2008). “She likes it out in the paddock and that kind of stuff. I think it’s the right spot for her and if she runs her race, I think she’ll be tough. Anytime one runs subpar, you always kind of question yourself, but I think we’ve got her on the right track.”

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A field of five will face off in Sunday’s $100,000 Gold Fever

Woodford Racing’s Engage, never worse than second through four career starts, looks to return to the winners’ circle after his runner-up finish to National Flag in the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 7. That race was a repeat finish of the colt’s debut at Saratoga on August 5 when he was sent off as the betting favorite, and after exchanging multiple bumps with National Flag settled for second 1 ¼ lengths behind. 

The son of Into Mischief returned one day shy of a month later and scored by a half-length to break his maiden. The Chad Brown-trained Kentucky-bred colt closed out his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 3 Futurity on October 14.

Engage will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 4.

Jimmy Winkfield Stakes winner A Different Style will ship in from Parx Racing for trainer John Servis and looks to get back on track after fading to fifth in the Bay Shore. Previously, the speedy son of The Factor wired the field of seven to score by three lengths in the muddy, sealed Winkfield at Aqueduct which followed a fourth-place finish in the Heft on December 30 at Laurel. The Heft was won by stablemate Diamond King, a possible starter in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. After breaking his maiden in his second start, A Different Style won the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park on November 11.

A Different Style drew the outside post 5 and will get the services of Kendrick Carmouche for the third straight time.

The Michelle Nevin trainee I’m an Ocala Dude is another who looks to rebound after his tiring fourth-place finish in the Bay Shore. The son of First Dude, broke his maiden in his sixth career start, and did so by topping seven others by 7 ¾ lengths on February 1 at Aqueduct. He returned to best six others in a starter allowance try before stepping up against graded stakes company.

I’m an Ocala Dude will get Manuel Franco in the saddle and will run from post 2. 

The James E Hess-owned Flash Drive will face a tougher group than what he has been accustomed to on Sunday, but will flash the speed he has shown in a few of his eight career starts. The son of Flashy Bull makes his third start as a 3-year-old and enters off a 6 ¼-length victory in the slop at Aqueduct against open-claimers. One of a few in the race bred to like an off track, he scored to break his maiden over the slop three starts back on December 23 to close out his 2-year-old season.

Drawing the rail, Flash Drive will get Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle for the first time.

Another making the trip to New York from Pennsylvania’s Parx Racing is Newtown Anner Stud’s gelding Forced, who gives up experience to the others in here while making only his third career start. 

A 3 ¾-length winner in his debut at Tampa Bay this year, the son of Take Charge Indy was disqualified to seventh in his last start after ducking out amid his 8 ¼-length apparent victory. He will be saddled by trainer Miguel Vera and gets Lasix for the first time.

Jockey Edgar Prado, who is in search of his 7000th career victory, is named to ride from post 3.

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Facebook Live stream of Man o’ War Day; What's happening this weekend

In addition to exclusive television coverage of Man o’ War Day presented on Belmont Live airing from 4-7 p.m. on MSG+, NYRA will also stream coverage of Man o’ War day on the @TheNYRA Facebook page from 6:10-7 p.m. The Facebook Live stream will feature the Grade 3, $350,000 Peter Pan, the local traditional prep for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, and the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War.

What's happening this weekend at Belmont Park, at a glance:

Saturday, May 12, Man o’ War Day
Gates and post time: Gates will open at 11 a.m. First post for the 11-race Man o’ War day card is 1:30 p.m. with five stakes races, highlighted by the 60th running of the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War with a post time of 6:50.
General Admission: $5; general parking is free, preferred parking $3 and $7 for the clubhouse lot.

• Giveaway sale: Fans will have the chance to pick up past commemorative giveaway items on-track for the discounted price of $1 or $2, while supplies last. The commemorative giveaway sale will take place on the first floor grandstand.
• “Low Roller Challenge”: Saturday’s action-packed stakes card will include a return of the popular “Low Roller Challenge,” which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards the live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the first floor grandstand next to the Guest Services booth.
• Belmont Stakes Racing Festival tickets available: Tickets for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival are available for purchase. Guests can purchase their tickets with no fees on the third floor at the clubhouse-grandstand exchange. General admission for Belmont Stakes Day is $20. Reserved seating is available beginning at $55. Ticketholders are automatically entered into the Belmont Stakes $150,000 Sweepstakes, which will provide one lucky fan with the chance of a lifetime - to earn $150,000 by picking the winner of the 150th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9. Fans can earn up to 12 entries into this sweepstakes with purchase of Belmont Stakes tickets.

Sunday, May 13, Mothers’ Day
Gates and post time: Gates will open at 11 a.m. First post for the 11-race Man o’ War day card is 1:30 p.m.
General Admission: $5; general parking is free, preferred parking $3 and $7 for the clubhouse lot.

• Mothers’ Day: This Sunday for Mothers’ Day, all moms on track will receive a flower in the Garden Terrace while supplies last.
• Enter to Win: A free “Enter to Win” promotion will also take place with sign-ups in the Clubhouse lobby for eligible participants to win a special prize to be drawn at 2 p.m.