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Forte breezes five furlongs for G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

by NYRA Press Office

·    Forte breezes five furlongs for G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

·    Belmont Stakes contender Red Route One has quiet first week at Belmont

·    Angel of Empire, Hit Show breeze at Churchill Downs for G1 Belmont Stakes

·    Barrera, III repeats as Division A winner of Under 20’s Challenge; Quick takes Division B

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a “thumbs up” following a Saturday morning breeze from Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Forte, who worked five-eighths over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Under sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s, Forte, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, breezed in company with Ontario-bred maiden Abadin [1:00.69]. NYRA clockers caught Forte through three-eighths in 35 seconds flat before completing five furlongs in 1:00.44 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 flat over the fast main track.

The move was Forte's second since being scratched the morning of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs as the morning line favorite. He breezed a half-mile in 50.31 last Sunday over the Belmont training track.

“I was really, really happy. I thought he was moving great. He got into a good rhythm, finished up great and galloped out nice and well,” Pletcher said. “It seems like he’s maintained his fitness level. We thought that last week when he breezed a half that he recovered pretty quickly, and even more so today after a strong breeze and big gallop out. It seems like everything is in good order.”

Pursuant to HISA Rule 2241(a), Forte was placed on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list after being scratched from the Derby due to a bruised right front foot. In order to be successfully removed from the list, Forte had to work in front of a regulatory veterinarian and then produce a blood sample for review following the breeze which generally takes five days to be returned.

Pletcher said Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, NYRA's Senior Examining Veterinarian, was pleased with the work and subsequent exam.

“It went very well. She examined him before he breezed, watched him on the track during the breeze and after the breeze and then came back to the barn and examined him again,” Pletcher said. “She said she was happy. They pulled blood and she gets results in five days on that and that should take care of everything.”

Pletcher said he is content that Forte is in top shape ahead of the Belmont.

“There’s protocols in place and we had to adhere to those and we're happy that everything went smoothly,” Pletcher said. “We felt confident the horse was in good order or we wouldn’t have been out there twice in the last six days, but you still want to make sure everything went smoothly and we're happy everything did go well.”

Initially scheduled to work on Friday morning, Pletcher moved Forte's breeze to Saturday to give him an extra day.

“It would have been back in five days, so we felt it would be crowding it a bit,” Pletcher said.

Forte, a son of Violence out of the five-time stakes winning Blame mare Queen Caroline, won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park this season following his Eclipse Award-earning season last year. He was bought for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Pletcher also reported that Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns, who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the Belmont Stakes. The son of Uncle Mo missed a scheduled breeze on Friday after demonstrating signs of colic that morning.

“We’re going to be knocked off course. He had a bout of colic,” Pletcher said. “He’s fine, no surgery needed. They just have to administer some fluids. It’s unfortunate timing, but it’s not something that we can [control]. We can’t get a breeze in the next day or two so we’re going to run out of time. We’ll make sure he’s OK and then come up with a game plan.”

Pletcher said Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s 10-furIong maiden winner Prove Worthy remains possible for the Belmont Stakes. The Curlin chestnut was a third-out maiden winner on May 2 at Churchill Downs, and has remained in training alongside Pletcher’s division at the Louisville oval. He breezed a half-mile in 49.60 at Churchill on May 23.

“I’II have to talk to [co-owner] Mike [Repole] and see what he wants to do there. He’s just coming off a maiden race, but he did appreciate the mile and a quarter,” Pletcher said. “l think he’s an improving horse, but the question is does he have enough seasoning to come into a race like this. l’II talk to the ownership group and come up with a plan.”

Prove Worthy is out of the Grade 1-placed First Samurai mare Endless Chatter, whose dam Orate is a full-sister to the late influential sire Pulpit.

Pletcher said Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice was in good order following his Friday morning work in preparation for the Belmont Stakes. The gray son of four-time Belmont Stakes-winning sire Tapit finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby after victories in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 1 Blue Grass.

He added that Forte and Tapit Trice would likely both log their final Belmont Stakes breezes on Saturday, June 3.

Bass Racing’s homebred Annapolis also worked on Saturday morning under Ortiz, Jr., going a half-mile in 49.55 over the training track in preparation for the Grade 3, $200,000 Poker on Belmont Stakes Day, June 10. The 4-year-old son of War Front won his seasonal debut in the Opening Verse on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

“He went really well and he’s on schedule for the Poker,” Pletcher said.

Early look at G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

Probable: Angel of Empire (Brad Cox), Forte (Todd Pletcher), Hit Show (Cox), Il Miracolo (Antonio Sano), National Treasure (Bob Baffert), Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook), Red Route One (Steve Asmussen), Tapit Trice (Pletcher)

Possible: Arabian Lion (Baffert), Arcangelo (Jena Antonucci), Prove Worthy (Pletcher), Reincarnate (Baffert)

The Belmont Stakes headlines the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that features a total of 16 stakes events from Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10. For additional information on the 2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com.

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Belmont Stakes contender Red Route One has quiet first week at Belmont

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Kentucky homebred Red Route One has settled into his routine at Belmont Park since arriving on May 21 to prepare for an intended start in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 10 over Big Sandy.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the chestnut son of Gun Runner has gone out for light exercise each morning while under the care of Asmussen’s Belmont assistant, Toby Sheets, who said Red Route One had an easy gallop over the main track Saturday.

“He’s doing well,” said Sheets. “He went to the main track today and I’m very happy with him. We haven’t breezed him yet and he has just been galloping. He seems good over the track and he likes his round pen.”

Red Route One was last seen finishing a closing fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 20 where he made up ground late but could not reel in the runaway pair of Blazing Sevens and the victorious National Treasure after the latter set moderate fractions throughout.

He won the nine-furlong Bath House Row by a head two starts back at Oaklawn Park and has finished on-the-board in three graded events when second in the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 3 Southwest this year, and third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity as a juvenile.

The regally-bred Red Route One is out of the unraced Tapit mare Red House, a full-sister to 2014 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Untapable and a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner and sire Paddy O’Prado. Red Route One is closely related to Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino third-place finisher Dreamlike, who is also by Gun Runner and out of a full sister to Red House named Time to Tap.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing will send out their evergreen New York-bred Bankit in Monday’s $200,000 Commentator, a 1 1/16-mile main track test for state-breds over Big Sandy. The multiple graded-stakes placed 7-year-old son of Central Banker has proven worthy of his name with total purse earnings nearing $1.3 million and a resume that includes seven stakes victories.

Bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Blue Devil Racing, Bankit won the 2021 Commentator by 13 1/4 lengths and seeks his first win since taking the NYSSS Thunder Rumble in December at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Bankit, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Frank Y. Whiteley against open company on April 15 at Laurel Park, recorded his final breeze for the Commentator on Tuesday, covering a half-mile in 49.89 seconds over the Belmont dirt training track.

“He’s doing very well and breezed great the other day,” said Sheets. “He’s been training well and I’m very happy with him. He’s so consistent and he’s just so exciting. It’s been a positive experience with him and he makes you feel good.” 

Memorial Day Monday’s special 10-race all New York-bred card at Belmont Park celebrates the best of New York racing for the annual Big Apple Showcase Day. The day will offer six state-bred stakes worth $900,000. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Angel of Empire, Hit Show breeze at Churchill Downs for G1 Belmont Stakes

Trainer Brad Cox will go two deep in pursuit of his second conquest in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets with Kentucky Derby alumnus Angel of Empire [third] and Hit Show [fifth]. Both horses breezed Saturday at Churchill Downs, visiting the track at 5:30 a.m. Eastern.

Albaugh Family Stables’ Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire went in company with graded stakes winner Warrant and logged five-eighths in 59.80 seconds over the fast main track.

Gary and Mary West’s Hit Show, second in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, completed his five-furlong move in 1:00.20 in company with two-time winning sophomore Salute the Stars.

“Angel of Empire and Hit Show worked really well this morning,” said Cox, who saddled 2021 Belmont winner Essential Quality. “Both horses have exited the Derby in good shape and have been able to get back to regular training. Angel of Empire worked with Warrant. He started a couple lengths back and finished up well around the turn. Hit Show is a more aggressive type of horse and gets a lot out of his training. He worked with Salute the Stars who’s a good work horse as well. They had a very solid move.”

Both Angel of Empire and Hit Show will record their final breeze at Churchill Downs next Saturday before shipping to Belmont early the following week.

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Barrera, III repeats as Division A winner of Under 20’s Challenge; Quick takes Division B

Trainers Oscar Barrera, III and Pat Quick came out on top in their respective divisions of the Under 20's Challenge at the Aqueduct winter and spring meets, finishing the contest with 200 and 92.5 points, respectively.

The program, launched in 2018 and open to local trainers with 20 or fewer horses nationwide in Division A and 10 or fewer in Division B, ran from Sunday, January 1 through the conclusion of the Big A spring meet on Sunday, April 30.

The top-six trainers in Division A shared a prize pool of $60,000, with Barrera, III earning the winner’s share of $16,000. The top-five trainers in Division B shared a prize pool of $50,000 with Quick also enjoying a winner’s share of $16,000. Stall allotments for the 2023 Aqueduct winter/spring meets were used to determine eligible trainers.

Trainers were awarded points based on their horses' performances in overnight races at Aqueduct from January 1 through the end of the Big A spring meet. Stakes races did not count for the purpose of this contest.

Barrera, III, who also won Division A of last year’s challenge, enjoyed two allowance level victories with the New York-bred Know It All Audrey, including an open-company win on April 30. He also notched two victories with his own Lohengrin Two, who won an April 22 allowance against fellow state-breds.

“It’s very good and this helps little barns,” said Barrera, III, who finished 46 points ahead of second-place Randi Persaud. “This helps us keep going and gives us some extra income to buy supplies for the barn and to reinvest in claiming more horses. I think it’s a hell of a program that’s here for us to make some extra income and it makes it a little more exciting for us.”

Barrera, III said Know It All Audrey is a special horse in his barn.

“She performed at a high level and she was able to win against open company,” said Barrera, III. “Audrey is the star to be honest. The success I’ve had with her is amazing. I just hope we continue to claim horses, get lucky in shakes, and get horses with her caliber of ability.” 

Quick secured Division B by 11.5 points over second-place Pat Reynolds. Among his top performers at the Big A were Olympic Dreams, who won at maiden special weight and allowance level, and allowance winners After Five and Backed by Gold. Olympic Dreams’ performances this winter have propelled him to a start in stakes company in Monday’s state-bred $200,000 Commentator at Belmont.

“The winter was full of ups and downs just like the entire business is, but it all worked out that we wound up winning this,” said Quick, who won his first Under 20' Challenge. “It’s great that NYRA has this program in place for us and that money comes in handy. It gives us a little cushion going into Saratoga.”

Quick praised the efforts of his horses this year, noting Olympic Dreams’ strong run of form when on-the-board in 3-of-4 Big A outings.

“Olympic Dreams won two races and now he’s in a stake on Monday,” said Quick. “He was the highlight of the winter and the rest of them performed very consistently. Sometimes it just works out like that.”