**For odds and post positions for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
(718) 659-2351
ZITO-TRAINED ICE BOX IS SOLID 3-1 FAVORITE OVER 11 IN
ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday's 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, which marks the finish line for the 2010 Triple Crown, could be the starting point for racing's next star.
Last year, Summer Bird, an unknown who had finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby, ran off with an upset victory in the 1½-mile
This year, a dozen colts and geldings will enter the starting gate at
Supporting the Belmont Stakes, the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown, is a glittering 12-race undercard that includes the 80th running of the Betfair TVG Acorn for 3-year-old fillies; the 14th running of the Grade 1 Just a Game for fillies and mares on the turf; the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan on the turf; the Grade 2 Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs and the Grade 2 True North at six furlongs.
The Belmont is the final leg of The New York Racing Association, Inc.'s (NYRA) Guaranteed $1 million All-Stakes Pick 4 and its Guaranteed $1 million All-Stakes Pick 6. Race coverage begins on ESPN at noon and goes until 5 p.m., with ABC televising the race from 5-7 p.m.
Brooklyn-born Nick Zito will be trying for a third career Belmont Stakes victory, and unlike his last two, which ended the 2004 and 2008 Triple Crown bids of Smarty Jones and Big Brown, the Hall of Fame trainer will be sending out a pair of favorites in Ice Box and Fly Down.
Owned by Robert LaPenta, Ice Box is one of two Grade 1 winners in the field, having closed from last to win the Florida Derby at 20-1. But it was his desperate run to make up almost 22 lengths in the Kentucky Derby to finish second to Super Saver that caught everyone's attention, and with the son of Pulpit, Zito is sitting on his first
Jose Lezcano has the mount on the 3-1 morning-line favorite from post position 6.
The second of Zito's 1-2
Velazquez, who piloted the filly Rags to Riches to her historic
"It's all been positive, and I want to keep it that way," said Zito of his two entrants.
Fly Down also owns a pair of victories over the colt who's been turning heads during the mornings at
Second to Fly Down in a maiden race at Churchill Downs on November 28, First Dude (who is named after former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's husband, Todd) also couldn't hold him off in an allowance at Gulfstream Park in February, beaten a head. Fifth in the Florida Derby behind Ice Box, First Dude was third after getting bounced around at the start of the Blue Grass before his game second to Lookin At Lucky.
"He's a big, strong, long-striding colt, and this track should suit him," said trainer Dale Romans. "It's time to turn the tables."
Ramon Dominguez, the leading rider in
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who earned his first Kentucky Derby victory this year, and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who notched his fifth Preakness just under three weeks ago, are both in the
Pletcher, who until last week did not have a
Javier Castellano rides the son of Broken Vow, 12-1 on the morning line, from post position 12.
Like Pletcher, Baffert also owns a
The Baffert-trained Game On Dude, whose silks sport an orange basketball on a blue background, was purchased by Bernard Schiappa, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable and Diamond Pride LLC with the intent of making one of the spring classics, and the gelding earned his way into the
"I am looking forward to seeing what he will do going a distance of ground," said Baffert. "That's the key to the
Martin Garcia, who won the Preakness with Lookin At Lucky, is aboard Game On Dude in his first ride at
WinStar Farm already has a classic win this spring with Super Saver's
"I think he's in there with a chance," said Mott.
Mike Smith rides the 12-1 choice from post position 7.
A handful of trainers will be sending out their first Belmont Stakes starters, including Alexis Barba with Make Music for Me, Michael Maker with Stately Victor, and Steve Margolis with Stay Put.
Barba, 57, would become the first woman to saddle a winner in a Triple Crown event should Make Music for Me win. Twice second to 2-Year-Old champion Lookin At Lucky – in the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal – Make Music for Me, owned by Ellen and Peter Johnson, rallied from last to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby in his first start on dirt.
Since 1984, eight women have sent out
Joel Rosario, who has never ridden at
F. Thomas and Jack Conway's Stately Victor owns the distinction of being the only other Grade 1 winner in the field besides Ice Box, having won the Blue Grass over an artificial surface at odds of 41-1, highest in that race's history. Subsequently eighth in the
Richard, Bertram, and Elaine Klein's Stay Put will be making his first start in Grade 1 company in the
Jockey Jamie Theriot makes his
The fourth trainer with a
Winner of his first two starts at Tampa Bay Downs, the Limehouse colt was trained by the late Alan Seewald, who passed away on April 12, after which Uptowncharlybrown was transferred to McLaughlin. Third in the Grade 2 Lexington at Keeneland in his most recent start, Uptowncharlybrown will be ridden by Rajiv Maragh as the 10-1 choice from post 3.
"He's been doing great since we got him, and I am excited about our chances," said McLaughlin, who finished fourth in last year's
Ike and Dawn Thrash are hoping for a good conclusion to their Triple Crown experience with Dave in
Rounding out the field is Lawrence Roman's Spangled Star who in his stakes debut finished third to Afleet Again and Ibboyee in the Grade 3 Wither at Aqueduct on April 24. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and ridden by Garrett Gomez, the Distorted Humor colt breaks from post position 2 at 30-1.
Parking gates open for the
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