Belmont Park stakes schedule kicks off with Friday's Affirmed Success

by Brian Bohl

A veteran field of 13 New York-breds will start the Belmont Park stakes schedule in the sixth running of the $100,000 Affirmed Success on Friday at six furlongs on the main track.

Weekend Hideaway, trained by Philip Serpe, will look to repeat in the Affirmed Success after capturing last year's edition by 2 ¼-lengths. The 7-year-old will be returning to stakes company after a third-place finish in an allowance race last out on April 1 at Gulfstream Park.

Weekend Hideaway, the 4-1 morning-line choice, was the runner-up in his last start at Belmont Park, finishing just a half-length behind Breakin the Fever in the Hudson Handicap on October 22. That built on a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on October 1. Luis Saez, who piloted him to victory in the 2016 Affirmed Success, will have the return call from the outside post.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez's pair of entrants, Eye Luv Lulu and Marriedtothemusic, drew posts 1 and 2, respectively. Eye Lu Lulu, a 5-1 selection, has finished on the board the last three starts and will be ridden by Paco Lopez.

His stablemate, who is also owned by Michael Dubb, will be looking for his first stakes win since the race's 2014 edition. Marriedtothemusic won just one race in eight starts since that victory but will look to rebound with Irad Ortiz, Jr., Aqueduct's spring meet leading rider, in the irons at 6-1 odds.

David Jacobson will saddle three in the race, including 6-1 choice and multiple stakes winner Ostrolenka. The 5-year-old has not won in his last seven starts but racked up three third-place finishes. He will depart post 4 with Junior Alvarado. West Hills Giant, a 15-1 choice, drew post 10 for Jacobson, while Awesome Gent, at 20-1, drew post 5 with Manny Franco aboard. 

Rectify, for trainer Charlton Baker, is 2-2-0 in his last five starts. Jose Ortiz will have the mount on the 6-1 selection, who will be making his stakes debut after posting five wins in his first 16 career starts. 

Baker's other runner, Final Chapter, has won two of his last three races. Jockey Dylan Davis will ride the 30-1 shot from post 6.

Candid Desire, for trainer Gary Sciacca, won his first career stakes in the Hollie Hughes on February 11 at Aqueduct. The 5-year-old is 2-1-1 in his last five starts. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Candid Desire, off at 8-1, from post 11. 

Rounding out the field is Celtic Chaos, for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Zilla Racing Stables; Samadi Sky, for trainer Robert Barbara and J and M Racing Stables, Sudden Surprise, for trainer Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable; and Riff Raff, for trainer and owner Michael Divitto.