Derby Future Pool 5 Tampa Bay Derby Santa Anita Hcp Day Gotham Stakes Day Kentucky Derby Contenders |
|
Edgar Prado give the thumbs up on Lost in the Fog after winning the Riva Ridge Stakes. |
The undercard of the Belmont Stakes included five other graded stakes races. The Grade 2 Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds drew the most attention by the presence of the undefeated Lost in the Fog. Many felt he should have been entered in the Triple Crown, but he was never nominated, his connections opting to keep him at sprint distances. Seven others entered to challenge the prohibitive 2-5 favorite in this $200,000 event at 7 furlongs on the main track.
Under new rider Edgar Prado (replacing injured regular rider Russell Baze), Lost in the Fog was gunned to the front and battled on the pace with 12-1 shot Going Wild through a quarter in 22.22 and a half in 44.45. At this point Going Wild tired and dropped out of contention, as Richard Migliore asked 6-1 second choice Egg Head for his run. Egg Head's late move was futile, as Lost in the Fog was drawing away and finished 1 1/4 lengths clear at the line in a time of 1:21.54 over the fast track. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to 28-1 shot Middle Earth in third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Lost in the Fog Prado 2.80 2.40 2.10 6 Egg Head Migliore 3.30 2.50 5 Middle Earth Stevens 3.30 Winning Time: 1:21.54 $2 Exacta 2-6 7.40 $2 Trifecta 2-6-5 58.00 |
Ron Turcotte, Secretariat's jockey, presents the trophy to the happy connections of Lost in the Fog. Winning trainer Greg Gilchrist said, "I think this was his toughest race. I
could tell by the way he came back that he was tired. You knew that when we
drew the 2-hole, we were going to get challenged two or three times in this
race. It takes a pretty good horse to fend off half the field when they are
laying back waiting for you and taking turns at you. This horse could run the
second quarter faster than the first, if you wanted him to. They softened him
up a little bit, but believe me, their tongues were hanging out trying to
catch him. I think he could do with all of the best (of the three-year-olds).
As good a job as Edgar (Prado) did, I still wish Russell (Baze) could have
ridden this horse. That is taking nothing away from Edgar, I thought he did a
great job." Gilchrist said that Lost in the Fog would start next in the
King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.
Lost in the Fog and Edgar Prado head out to the track for the Riva Ridge Stakes. Prado said, "My horse is pretty good. When we were in the
stretch, I hit him once and then again and he hit another gear. I wasn't
worried about (Egg Head). He's got so much natural speed that I didn't want to
push him too hard in the early going. But this colt is so good, that when I
asked him for a little speed, he took off."
Second place finisher Egg Head in the post parade. His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, "He ran
great. Obviously, we were second best. We have a very nice horse, and
hopefully, we can find races without Lost in the Fog. The pace looked like it
would be to our benefit. I thought we had a chance to get by, but Lost in the
Fog kept finding more." Jockey Richard Migliore said, "He ran very hard today. My hat is
off to the winner. I thought I had him coming to the 3/16 pole but the other
horse dug in. My horse is really good, but we also hooked a really good horse
in Lost in the Fog."
In the race before the Belmont Stakes, a field of eleven older horses went to post in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap, a $400,000 event over 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf course. Artie Schiller was bet down to the 9-5 favorite in a field including Meteor Storm, the 4-1 second choice, and 6-1 third choice America Alive.
20-1 shot Quest Star and favorite Artie Schiller battled up front for the first mile and were joined by 15-1 shot Good Reward halfway down the backstretch, as Quest Star set the early fractions of 25.06, 49.96, and 1:13.63. At the top of the lane, Quest Star stubbornly held on through a mile in 1:37.19 but was tiring badly and dropped out of contention. Good Reward inherited the lead and was 1/2 a length ahead of the favorite at the 1/8 pole. 14-1 shot Relaxed Gesture, who was seventh early, rallied well taking a four wide path around the turn but Good Reward held on for the 1/2 length win in a time of 2:00.69 for the 1 1/4 miles over firm turf. Relaxed Gesture nosed out the favorite for second, while Meteor Storm disappointed finishing 7th and America Alive 8th.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Lost in the Fog Prado 2.80 2.40 2.10 6 Egg Head Migliore 3.30 2.50 5 Middle Earth Stevens 3.30 Winning Time: 1:21.54 $2 Exacta 2-6 7.40 $2 Trifecta 2-6-5 58.00 |
Owner Ogden Mills Phipps leads Good Reward and Jerry Bailey down Victory Lane to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Shug McGaughey said, "I think Jerry (Bailey) just knew; he
anticipated so much what was going on that he got him into a position where he
would have a chance. We were behind a slow pace at Pimlico and he kicked, but
just couldn't catch those two horses. I think this is a true mile and a
quarter horse. I was glad to see him be versatile enough to be wherever he
wants to be. We'll find someplace to run him, probably Saratoga. If we can
continue to improve with the Breeders' Cup being here (Oct. 29th), it would be
nice to have a chance."
Good Reward in the post parade. Winning jockey Jerry Bailey said, "I was just going to follow Edgar (Prado,
aboard Artie Schiller) all the way. It seemed like he wanted out down the
backside because of what happened at Pimlico, I think. When Jon (Court) stayed
off the rail, I said this is almost like a Christmas present. I got to stay
slow-paced and I was able to save ground. He still gave me a big kick. We went
49 for the half, and on this course, that's pretty slow. It's pretty firm."
Second place finisher Relaxed Gesture in the post parade. His trainer Christophe Clement said, "We ran a great
race. I am very happy. He's a push-button horse, which Brice (Blanc) nearly
perfect today." Jockey Brice Blanc said, "My horse ran huge.
The race set up perfect for him and I was in good position, right from the
start. It was a big improvement from his last two races. I'm glad Christophe
gave me a chance to continue riding him. I thought a lot of him coming into
the race, and I think the farther he goes, the better he'll get."
Third place finisher and beaten favorite Artie Schiller in the post parade. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said, "I don't know what the other guy was thinking letting the
winner up the rail. He just didn't have it the last little bit. It doesn't
make any sense with his breeding, or maybe he just doesn't want to run this
far. He's an El Prado out of a Majestic Light mare. It just looks like he's
better when he's chugging against a faster pace." Jockey Edgar Prado, "He broke good. We were in a
perfect spot. We tried to run down good reward, and we couldn't go by him.
That may have cost me second. Today, we were outside. We didn't have an
excuse."
Triple Crown quick links:
Back to Horse-Races.Net main page
Want to keep up with what's new on this site? Sign up for my weekly newsletter here. |
On the Forum:
Search Horse-Races.Net: |