Monday, May 31, 2010
Contact: Jon Forbes
(718) 659-2240
ELDAAFER SEEKS
ELMONT, N.Y. – Long distance specialist Eldaafer will try to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap for the second straight year, while Nordic Truce will attempt to keep his undefeated record intact in the Grade 3 Hill Prince presented by Ram on Friday at Belmont Park.
The Brooklyn, a 1 ½-mile event for 3-years-old and up, is the first leg of the Brooklyn/Belmont Double, which requires bettors to select the winners of the 122nd edition of the
Eldaafer was winless in eight starts after winning last year's Brooklyn by a nose at 17-1, but regained winning form in his latest effort, drawing off to take a starter allowance at Belmont by 4 ¼ lengths.
"The race [on May 20] at
Prior to that victory, Eldaafer had made three starts in turf events at
"He's a horse who likes change – he gets bored with routine," said Alvarado. "[The turf starts] didn't help him or hurt him, either way. Down there he was knocking heads against some monsters."
Jose Valdivia retains the mount aboard Eldaafer, who will carry 116 pounds and break from post position 4 as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Tiger's Rock, a two-time stakes winner at 1 5/8 miles, and American Dance, who has never raced beyond nine furlongs.
Tiger's Rock won the Gallant Fox and
"He's proven the marathon distance is his best game," said Pletcher of 121-pound high weight who drew post position 7. "Keeneland's turf course is a bit difficult for some horses, so we drew a line through that race and regrouped."
David Cohen, who guided Tiger's Rock to victory in the Gallant Fox and
Pletcher figures American Dance, who was second in an optional claimer over the main track at Aqueduct in his last start, will be prominent early.
"He's kind of a one-paced horse, but he's by A.P. Indy and a half-brother to Saint Liam, so we think he might be able to carry his speed," said Pletcher.
American Dance, the 3-1 morning line favorite, will break from post position 5 under John Velazquez and 114 pounds.
Gangbuster looks to make it two-for-two since joining the barn of Tim Ice. The son of Langfuhr captured last year's
"I used to work for Keith Desormeaux, and he thought there'd be more long distance races for him here," said Ice of the decision to send the 5-year-old to
Gangbuster, tabbed at 5-1 on the morning line, prepped for the Brooklyn with a 2 ¾-length victory in an optional claimer over the
Last year's Greenwood Cup winner Alcomo will make his first start since a winter campaign in
The Hill Prince, a one-mile turf test for sophomores, is led by Nordic Truce, who has three victories from as many starts. After breaking his maiden impressively at Calder, the Ammerland Stud homebred closed into fast paces to win the
Trainer Christophe Clement believes Nordic Truce, the 3-5 morning-line choice, can handle any pace scenario.
"It doesn't matter," said Clement. "He can do whatever he wants. He is a good horse and has a great jockey, Alan Garcia."
In the Hill Prince, Nordic Truce will face recent allowance winners Gold Medallion and Lethal Combination, Krypton, Noah's Dream, and the maiden Avenging Spirit. Remand and Six Clicks will compete if the race is transferred onto the main track.
The field for the Grade 2
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Tranquil Manner (KY) | F Jara | 113 | K P McLaughlin | 12-1 |
| 2 | Gabriel's Hill (KY) | E Coa | 116 | | 6-1 |
| 3 | Gangbuster (KY) | K J Desormeaux | 117 | T A Ice | 5-1 |
| 4 | Eldaafer (KY) | J Valdivia, Jr. | 116 | D Alvarado | 9-2 |
| 5 | American Dance (VA) | J R Velazquez | 114 | T A Pletcher | 3-1 |
| 6 | | J Castellano | 115 | M D Wolfson | 8-1 |
| 7 | Tiger's Rock (KY) | D Cohen | 121 | T A Pletcher | 7-2 |
| 8 | Alcomo (BRZ) | C H Velasquez | 115 | | 8-1 |
The field for the Grade 3 Hill Prince:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Krypton (FL) | R Maragh | 116 | K P McLaughlin | 5-1 |
| 2 | Avenging Spirit (KY) | J Lezcano | 116 | R Barbara | 12-1 |
| 3 | Noah's Dream (KY) | J Valdivia, Jr. | 116 | H G Motion | 12-1 |
| 4 | Gold Medallion (KY) | D Cohen | 116 | | 10-1 |
| 5 | Nordic Truce (KY) | R A Dominguez | 123 | C Clement | 3-5 |
| 6 | Lethal Combination (KY) | A Garcia | 118 | K P McLaughlin | 9-2 |
| MTO | Remand (KY) | J R Velazquez | 116 | J P Terranova, II | 8-5 |
| MTO | Six Clicks (KY) | R Maragh | 116 | T Albertrani | 3-1 |
