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Belmont Park Notes 5.15.20

by Keith McCalmont

• Grade 1-winners Sir Winston and Perfect Alibi breeze at Belmont Park
• Magner looking for spots for Extrordinary Jerry; Inveterate and Fierce Lady back in training
• Notables on the Belmont work tab

Reigning Grade 1 Belmont Stakes champ Sir Winston and Grade 1 Spinaway winner Perfect Alibi, both owned by Tracy Farmer, breezed Friday morning at Belmont Park for trainer Mark Casse, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.

Perfect Alibi, bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, breezed a half-mile from the gate in a swift 47.93 on the dirt training track.

"She worked well and she's ready to run. We're just waiting for New York to open," said Casse.

The dark bay daughter of Sky Mesa won the Grade 2 Adirondack at 6 ½-furlongs and Spinaway at seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course last summer. Following a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland in October, Perfect Alibi completed a sensational juvenile campaign with a fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park.

While Casse said he would consider the Grade 3 Dogwood, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies on June 6 at Churchill Downs, the Hall of Famer would prefer for Perfect Alibi to make her seasonal debut in New York.

"I'd like to try and run her against straight three-year-olds, but I'd like to keep her in New York and run her there," said Casse.

Sir Winston, a Tracy Farmer homebred, was clocked five-eighths in 1:03 flat on the Belmont Park main track which opened for training on Tuesday.

"His work got a little messed up this morning, but he's been training extremely well," said Casse. "We sent a horse out in front of him and they went too slow early, so the rider just let him go around. We'll wait a couple of days and breeze him again. Today was just meant to be an easy breeze anyways.

"He's so ready to go," added Casse. "We want to run him in New York if we can."

The Awesome Again chestnut won an optional-claiming tilt in January at the Big A and was a leading contender for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, initially slated for March 28, which was postponed due to the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Casse has a busy weekend of racing ahead with Gary Barber's multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy set to return in the $75,000 Powder Break as one of seven horses entered for the veteran conditioner on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Casse said he is hoping for firm turf on Saturday although there is rain in the forecast at the Hallandale oval.

"She's training extremely well, but we'll see what the weather brings," said Casse. "She can handle a little give in the turf but her best races are on harder turf."

Got Stormy finished fourth in her seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs and was second, by a neck, last out in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita.

In August, Got Stormy bested the boys in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga, covering one mile over the firm inner turf in a track record 1:32 flat. Following runner-up efforts in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, Got Stormy completed a tremendous 4-year-old campaign with a win in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar.

Casse has eight entries for Opening Weekend at Churchill Downs which will feature on America's Day at the Races, the nationally-acclaimed broadcast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports set to air on FS1 / FS2.

(All times Eastern)

Saturday, May 16

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (FS2)

2:30 - 6:00 p.m. (FS1)

6:00 - 6:30 p.m. (FS2)

Sunday, May 17

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (FS2)

2:00 - 6:00 p.m. (FS1)

6:00 - 6:30 p.m. (FS2)

Tracy Farmer's Fly So Pretty, a last-out winner of the Stewart Manor in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, is set to return in a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance on Saturday. Joel Rosario has the call on the Sky Mesa filly who has trained at Casse Training Center in Florida for her return.

Barber's Jack and Noah, winner of the Atlantic Beach in November at the Big A, is entered in a turf allowance sprint for sophomores on Sunday at Churchill.

Casse said rain forecast for the Louisville area over the weekend could hamper his plans.

"Fly So Pretty is coming into it well, but there's weather in the forecast there. Jack and Noah may run [if the races come off the turf], but I don't think Fly So Pretty would," said Casse.

Jack and Noah, a French-bred son of Bated Breath who has trained in Florida for this test, will be piloted by Tyler Gaffalione.

The speedy Jack and Noah stretched out for the first time last out in the Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston and opened up a five-length lead at the half-mile call before fading to fifth.

Casse said a return to sprinting should benefit Jack and Noah.

"He's an extremely nice horse and very fast but until he learns to relax a little bit, there's a limit to how far he'll go," said Casse. "As he matures and gets older, he might be able to go farther. We tried running him two turns last time out and he just ran off, so we'll come back to sprinting for now."

Casse also has John Oxley's Race Driver, with Florent Geroux named, in the same event as Jack and Noah.

Gary Barber and ERJ Racing's Patrol, out of graded-stakes winner Jenny's So Great, is cross-entered at Churchill in a $50,000 claiming sprint on Saturday and without the tag in an allowance-optional claiming sprint on Sunday.

Casse said Patrol, a first-out winner at the Big A in February, will likely go in Sunday's allowance test. The Liam's Map grey was bumped out of the gate when making his second career start in April at Gulfstream en route to finishing ninth.

Casse was one of seven new members elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame last week. Heading into the weekend, Casse has won 2,867 races from 17,840 starts in North America according to Equibase.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Casse. "Training horses is all I ever wanted to do since I was a little boy. The thing about the Hall of Fame is that it's not about being good for just one day, one year or even ten years, it means you've done a lot of big things. I'm very honored when I look at the names of the other trainers that I'm now in there with."

The veteran conditioner, a perennial leading trainer at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, is also a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. He has earned the Sovereign Award as Canada's Outstanding Trainer on 11 occasions.

Casse identified Gary Barber's War of Will, who won the 2019 Grade 1 Preakness, second leg of the Triple Crown, after enduring a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby as a career highlight.

"War of Will stands out. After all the turmoil in the Derby - and I've said all along it wasn't about revenge - it was just special to see him show everyone how great he is," said Casse.

He also highlighted Robert Masterson's Tepin, who won the Eclipse Award as Champion Grass Mare in 2015-16, as a personal favorite. A winner of five Grade 1 races in North America, Tepin traveled to Ascot in June 2016 to win the Group 1 Queen Anne.

"Tepin winning at Royal Ascot also stands out," said Casse. "Some great American horses went to Ascot and weren't able to do what she did."

And Casse said he will not rest on his laurels as he continues to pursue his goal of winning the Kentucky Derby, which has been moved this year to Saturday, September 5 at Churchill Downs.

"That's the big one. That first Saturday in September," said Casse, who has John Oxley's Enforceable sitting 15th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 33 points.

A maiden winner at Saratoga in August, Enforceable made the grade in the Grade 3 Lecomte in January at Fair Grounds. He has since finished second in the Grade 2 Risen Star and fifth last out in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.

"There's some very nice horses out there right now and our horse has to step up his game," said Casse. "I don't think he would have had a shot on the first Saturday in May. I think he went over the top on us. But I'm hoping by September 5 that he will be back at the top of his game.

"If it doesn't happen this year, maybe next year," added Casse. "We're blessed to have some of the biggest owners in the game and we'll keep our fingers crossed and keep trying."

Magner looking for spots for Extrordinary Jerry; Inveterate and Fierce Lady back in training

Trainer Dermot Magner has nominated Nice Guys Stable's Extrordinary Jerry to the $100,000 Blame, a one-mile test for 4-year-olds and upwards slated for May 23 at Churchill Downs.

"The nominations are pretty strong for that race. We'll see," said Magner. "He'll breeze here at Palm Meadows over the weekend. It will be week-to-week with him to see where we start him off. We may start in an allowance race."

The 5-year-old Overdriven ridgling, previously trained by Todd Pletcher, boasts a record of 4-3-2 from 17 starts with purse earnings of $260,106.

"He's been with us a few weeks now and seems to be doing good," said Magner. "He seems to be a quality horse."

Out of the Successful Appeal mare Dismissal, the Florida-bred Extrordinary Jerry was a romping 10 1/4-length winner last out of the FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir on September 28, 2019.

He has been working weekly towards a return to racing since April 4 including a half-mile breeze in 50.25 on May 9 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

"He's been breezing back-to-back and looks good. He's getting fitter," said Magner. "We just have to try finding a race for him. Hopefully, later in the year, we can run in some of those bigger purse races."

Nice Guys Stables' Inveterate, a sophomore daughter of Palace Malice, graduated at fourth asking on February 16 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The talented bay, purchased for $40,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, went gate-to-wire in the 6 1 ¼-length maiden win which garnered a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

She followed up with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks won by Swiss Skydiver, who came back to win a loaded renewal of the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park in April.

Magner said Inveterate, who finished third at second asking on the Belmont turf in September, was freshened following the Gulfstream effort.

"We gave her some time off after the Gulfstream race, things just didn't go to plan for her that day. She shipped back in to Palm Meadows two days ago and is one to look forward to later in the summer," said Magner. "We'd like to get her back on turf at some point as well. She'll be conditioned here for a month and probably head back up there [to New York] in June."

New York-bred Fierce Lady, winner of the 2019 Seeking the Ante in August at Saratoga, worked a half-mile on May 8 in 49.98.

"She's back breezing and doing pretty well. We had a couple of complications with her, but things seem to be going the right way at the moment," said Magner.

The now 3-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge graduated on debut in June at Belmont Park and followed up with a narrow nose loss in the Stillwater in July at Saratoga. The dark bay got back to winning ways in the Seeking the Ante ahead of a runner-up effort in the Joseph A. Gimma at Belmont to complete her juvenile campaign.

Fierce Lady, bred in the Empire State by Sugar Maple Farm, started her sophomore season at Aqueduct with a fourth in the Franklin Square in January and a third in an allowance-optional claiming tilt in February.

Magner said Fierce Lady, who worked a furlong in :10 flat at the 2019 March OBS where her $170,000 reserve was not met, will likely have a chance at her turf debut when racing returns in New York.

"We'll definitely try her on the turf at some point. She breezed well on the Polytrack at the sale and I'd like to try her once over turf," said Magner.

Magner currently has eight horses in training at Belmont Park and a strong contingent of young horses ready to make the move north from Florida.

"There's one or two in New York that are ready to run and a few coming back off layoffs," said Magner. "We have 15 two-year-olds at Palm Meadows. We're just getting them going."

Notables on the Belmont work tab

The main track at Belmont Park opened for training on Tuesday as preparations continue for the spring/summer meet which is currently under delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 1,500 horses are currently stabled on the Belmont backstretch and both the dirt training track and Big Sandy were busy over the course of the week.

Monday, May 11

Multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control, trained by Gregg Sacco for Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables, worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.61 on the dirt training track.

Jeff Fazio and Michael Fazio's Joevia, who won the 2019 Long Branch at Monmouth Park for Sacco, breezed four furlongs on the dirt training track in a swift 48.64, second fastest of 21 efforts at the distance.

Multiple stakes placed Honor Way breezed five-eighths in 1:02.08 on the dirt training track for trainer Charlton Baker.

Tuesday, May 12 - main track opens

Flying P Stable's Bon Raison, winner of the 2019 Tale of the Cat at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 49.05 on the dirt training track.

Reddam Racing's New York-bred Cash Offer worked a half-mile in 48.56 on the dirt training track for trainer Mark Hennig. The 4-year-old daughter of Shackleford won the La Verdad in January and was runner-up last out in the Broadway on February 15 at the Big A.

Linda Rice sent out Max Player for a six-furlong breeze in 1:14.64 on the dirt training track. Owned by George E. Hall, the Grade 3 Withers winner boasts 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. He is nominated to the Grade 3 $150,000 Matt Winn set for May 23 at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16-mile test offers 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers. Rice has also nominated her Jimmy Winkfield-winner Montauk Traffic to the Matt Winn.

Fans of the hit TV series How I Met Your Mother will be pleased to know New York-bred Robin Sparkles, a 3-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality out of the Dehere mare My Sparky, worked a half-mile in 50.51 on the dirt training track. Named after the fictional character portrayed by actress Cobie Smulders, the unraced bay was purchased by Rice for $30,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale.

Unraced New York-bred La Kara Mia, the first foal of the late Eclipse Award-winning New York-bred La Verdad, worked five-eighths in 1:02.10 on the dirt training track for Rice.

Waterville Lake Stables' New York-bred Sea Foam, a three-time stakes winner for trainer Christophe Clement, worked five-eighths in 1:02.75 on the dirt training track. The 5-year-old homebred son of Medaglia d'Oro won the 2017 Notebook at Aqueduct, the 2018 New York Derby at Finger Lakes and the 2018 Albany at Saratoga Race Course.

The Clement-trained graded-stakes placed New York-bred Therapist worked five furlongs in 1:02.75 on the dirt training track. Trained and co-bred by Clement for owners and co-breeders Oak Bluff Stables, Therapist has won seven-of-16 starts including scores in the  2017 Awad at Belmont, the 2018 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream, the 2018 NYSSS Spectacular Bid at Belmont, the 2018 NYSSS Cab Calloway at Saratoga, and the 2019 Elusive Quality at Belmont. The Freud chestnut also finished third in the 2018 Grade 3 Palm Beach.

Three Jokers and Funny Guy, New York-bred half-brothers out of the Distorted Humor mare Heavenly Humor, both breezed on the dirt training track on Tuesday for trainer John Terranova. Three Jokers, a 3-year-old bay by Twirling Candy who finished second in the 2019 Bertram F. Bongard at Belmont, worked five-eighths in 1:03.08. Funny Guy, a multiple-stakes winning Big Brown bay, covered three-quarters in 1:15.10.

Wednesday, May 13

Bad Boy Racing's New York-bred Kid Is Frosty, a multiple-stakes winner trained by Brad Cox, went three-eighths in 36.01 on the dirt training track.

Wise Racing's New York-bred More Mischief, a dark bay daughter of Into Mischief trained by Chad Brown, worked a half-mile in 48.21 on the dirt training track. The four-time winner captured the Biogio's Rose last out at the Big A.

Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables' Pat On the Back breezed a half-mile in 48.71. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, last year's Grade 2 Kelso champ was bred in New York by Sugar Maple Farm.

Thursday, May 14

Mr. Shortandsimple, who was off-the-board in the Grade 3 Withers in February, returned to be second in a starter-optional claiming event in March at the Big A that garnered a career-best 71 Beyer Speed Figure. Owned and trained by Rodriguez, the Pioneerof the Nile colt is entered in an optional-claiming event on Opening Day at Churchill Downs.

Chester and Mary Broman's multiple stakes-winning millionaire Mr. Buff worked a half-mile in 50.05 on the dirt training track.

Trained by John Kimmel, the 6-year-old New York-bred son of Friend or Foe is in the midst of a three-race win streak with scores in the Alex M. Robb, Jazil and Haynesfield all at the Big A.

The Kimmel-trained Kentucky-bred Mandatory, by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, worked three-eighths in 36.80 on the dirt training track. Owned by Tobey Morton, Mandatory is a half-brother to three-time Grade 1-winning multimillionaire I'm a Chatterbox.

Friday, May 15

Stoneway Farm's Cofactor, winner of the 2019 Warrior's Reward at Laurel Park for trainer Kelly Breen, worked a half-mile in 48.37 on the dirt training track.

E.V. Racing Stable's Water White, last out winner of the Busher Invitational on March 7 at the Big A for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, breezed five-eighths in 1:01.12 on Big Sandy.