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Overbore prevails in $150K Tremont

by Keith McCalmont

Peter Leidel’s Overbore graduated in style in Friday’s 123rd renewal of the $150,000 Tremont, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles at Belmont Park on Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Trained by Wesley Ward and patiently piloted by Joel Rosario, the dark bay Speightstown colt was squeezed at the start before settling into third position as Baytown Frosty and Trust Our Journey battled through splits of 21.99 seconds and 45.58 to the half-mile on the muddy main track.

Kavod, with Manny Franco up, rallied inside of Overbore late in the turn and darted to the rail as Trust Our Journey finally put away Baytown Frosty. But it was Overbore who found his best stride late, travelling outside of Trust Our Journey while bearing in slightly to secure a three-quarter length win over Kavod in a final time of 1:05.44.

Trust Our Journey and Baytown Frosty completed the order of finish. Rising Outlaw and Little Drama were scratched.

Overbore hopped at the start in her 4 1/2-furlong main track debut under Rosario in April at Keeneland when a closing third to Baytown Frosty, and just missed last out when second, by a nose, in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint on May 21 at Churchill Downs.

Rosario said Overbore was much improved from his maiden effort.

“He broke better than the first time I rode him,” said Rosario. “It looked like those two horses were going to keep the speed going. I was setting up in the perfect spot. When I said go, he was there for me. He kept going from there.

“He is very talented,” added Rosario. “He didn’t break that well, but he came with a nice run at the end, so that was a very good performance.”

Ward’s assistant David Flores was full of praise for Rosario’s patient steer.

“He’s not quick coming out of there, but Joel really knows him,” said Flores. “He said he might be just right off the pace. He got after them at the right time and it was a great run at the end.”

Overbore, out of the multiple stakes-winning Saffir mare Galina Point, was purchased for $275,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Overbore banked $82,500 in victory. He returned $3.30 for a $2 win ticket.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival continues Saturday and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Belmont Stakes Day will feature nine graded stakes, including eight Grade 1s, capped by the "Test of the Champion" for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown. First post on Saturday is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

Starting on May 1, Belmont Park re-opened to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.