TurfPublicists: POSITION LIMIT, BY STEINBRENNER'S BELLAMY ROAD, BREAKS MAIDEN ON DEBUT AT BELMONT

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Contact: Jon Forbes

POSITION LIMIT, BY STEINBRENNER’S BELLAMY ROAD, BREAKS MAIDEN ON DEBUT AT BELMONT

ELMONT, N.Y. – George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, was renowned for his will to win, and Position Limit helped keep that legacy alive today at Belmont Park when she broke her maiden impressively.

Position Limit is a 2-year-old daughter of freshman sire Bellamy Road, who dominated his opponents in the 2005 Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack by 17 ½ lengths while racing for Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable.

“I thought it was interesting timing, and obviously Bellamy Road was one of Mr. Steinbrenner’s better horses,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Position Limit for Starlight Partners. “It’s nice seeing him getting off to a good start as a stallion, and it’s a fitting tribute to the man.”

The 4-1 third choice in today’s fourth race, Position Limit raced four wide in fifth around the far turn, seized command from the pacesetter inside the quarter pole, and drew off under a vigorous hand ride in the stretch to prevail by 6 ¾ lengths. The final time for 5 ½ furlongs in the mud was 1:04.70.

Bellamy Road, who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and second in the Grade 1 Travers in his only two efforts following the Wood, stood the 2010 breeding season at Pauls Mill in Versailles, Ky. for a $10,000 fee. With today’s victory, Position Limit became the second winner for the 8-year-old son of Concerto.

“We were very pleased with the way she had trained,” said Pletcher. “She was a first-time starter who we thought would want a little more distance, and we caught an off racetrack. You’re always concerned with how they are going to handle that, but she had trained like she was capable of winning first out. I think if she comes out of it well, a race like the Adirondack [Grade 3, August 15 at Saratoga Race Course] could be on our radar screen.”

-30-