Belmont Park Fall Meet Archives

Sightseek Goes Out a Winner
by Emily Hufford

A champion in every sense of the word but without an Eclipse Award to prove it, Sightseek capped her brilliant career with a front-running victory in Belmont's Beldame Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday. The Juddmonte Farm homebred daughter of Distant View was trained throughout her career by Bobby Frankel, who was a little emotional after her win.

A Kentucky-bred, Sightseek had 12 wins in 20 starts and earned $2,445,216. Javier Castellano was aboard for the win over Society Selection and Storm Flag Flying, top fillies in their own right.

Sightseek's victories include an 11 3/4 length trouncing of the Ruffian Handicap last time out and the 2003 Beldame.

 


Funny Cide After the Gold Cup © 2004 Joe Salzillo

Funny Cide Surprises in Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park
by Emily Hufford

Having won only twice since the 2003 Preakness Stakes, Funny Cide has been all-but written off by many racing "experts," but proved his mettle once again in the historic Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Saturday. The four-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor appeared to be finished at the top of the stretch as Newfoundland took the lead, but battled back between that foe and The Cliff's Edge, who was closing on the outside, to steal the victory.

Ridden by regular rider Jose Santos, 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide completed the 1 1/4 miles in just over 2:02. Newfoundland finished second, just in front of The Cliff's Edge for third. Evening Attire, Bowman's Band, Love of Money, and Domestic Dispute completed the order of finish.

 

Kitten's Joy Crushes Older Foes
by Emily Hufford

Kitten's Joy stamped himself as perhaps the leading three-year-old in the country with yet another win this season, this one coming in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. Although the older Magistretti was favored, Kitten's Joy pounced at the top of the lane and drew clear, kicking away from his older foes to win easily.

The three-year-old son of El Prado is trained by Dale Romans and owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. Magistretti was second, Tycoon was third, and Request for Parole was fourth. The top older horse Kicken Kris surprised many by finishing second to last.


Kitten's Joy After the Turf Classic © 2004 Joe Salzillo


Pico Central Before the Vosburgh © 2004 Joe Salzillo

Pico Central Impressive
by Emily Hufford

The brilliant South American Pico Central impressed in the Vosburgh Stakes, winning by four lengths in what was supposed to be a battle with Speightstown. The five-year-old son of Spend a Buck kicked away from Voodoo, who rallied to be second, and favored Speightstown, who could do no better than third after setting the early pace.

Pico Central was ridden by Victor Espinoza and is trained by Paulo Lobo. The dark bay horse will run in either the Breeders' Cup Sprint or the Cigar Mile next.

 


Riskaverse © 2004 Joe Salzillo

Riskaverse Wins the Flower Bowl
by Emily Hufford

Riskaverse, a five-year-old daughter of Dynaformer making her twenty-sixth career start, won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap at Belmont Park on today to kick off "Super Saturday." She finished 3/4 of a length in front of Commercante with Moscow Burning finishing third.

Riskaverse is trained by Patrick Kelly for owners Fox Ridge Farm. She was ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. It was her first grade one win in two years. She was coming off of two second place finishes in stakes races this summer.

She now has earnings of $1,717,706.

 


Ghostzapper and Saint Laim Gallop Out © 2004 Alysse Jacobs

Ghost Zaps Saint Liam
by Alysse Jacobs and Amanda Saunders

Right out of the gate, Saint Liam took the lead and set blazing fractions, covering the first half in just :45 3/5 and the six furlongs in an eye-popping 1:08 3/5 with Ghostzapper tracking him the whole way. Before reaching a mile, Presidentialaffair and Bowman's Band couldn't keep up any more, dropping far back and relinquishing the race to the two pacesetters who flashed by the mile pole at 1:33 1/5 as they came down the stretch. From start to finish, it was a two-horse race, and in the final strides Ghostzapper flattened his ears and went after Saint Liam, stuck his nose in front and pulled off the win. Bowman's Band finished well back in third

The Bobby Frankel trainee was coming off a huge 128 Beyer in the Philip H. Iselin Handicap (G3) in his first attempt at a route. The Woodward was his first test at a distance in a Grade 1 event and his final time of 1:46 1/5, just four-fifths off the track record, proved the added distance was not a problem. He will train up to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park. Ghostzapper is now three wins for three starts this year and is undefeated in four starts at Belmont Park.