Belmont Park 2004 Archives
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Ashado
Wins the Coaching Club American Oaks Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Ashado reaffirmed her position on the top of the three-year-old filly division with a win in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), Belmont's mile and a quarter test for fillies. In her last outing, Ashado was upset by the D. Wayne Lukas-trainee Stellar Jayne, but that filly could do no better than second today as Ashado scored the victory. Magical Illusion finished third. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Saint Ballado has now won six stakes races in only one year of racing. |
Ashado
Before the Kentucky Oaks © Emily
Hufford 2004
The Cliff's Edge, Preachinatthebar Both
Lose in Return
by Emily Hufford
The Cliff's Edge, making his first start since the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), and Preachinatthebar, running for the first time since the Sir Barton Stakes on Preakness Day, both lost to Medallist in the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park on Sunday. The Cliff's Edge finished second, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Sir Shackelton, the winner of the Derby Trial Stakes earlier this year finished third. Preachinatthebar was fifth and Shaniko finished sixth.
Medallist is a son of Touch Gold and won the Withers Stakes earlier this year. He was ridden by Jorge Chavez and is trained by Allen Jerkins. Medallist paid $8.80 to win.
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No Fooling Around for Ghostzapper Nobody seems to have told Ghostzapper that he's not supposed to win a stakes race very easily off a nine-month layoff. However, there is a reason that the colt was the 1.35-1 favorite. With only four horses showing up for the Tom Fool Handicap (Gr. II) at Belmont, jockey Javier Castellano couldn't waste any time getting Ghostzapper into the race, despite his usual take-back tactics. Aggadan and Unforgettable Max were allowed to set the pace while Ghostzapper and Lion Tamer followed closely behind. Around the turn, Ghostzapper made a four-wide move and opened up willingly when asked, as if he hadn't missed a beat in the past nine months, to win by four and a half lengths over Aggadan. Unforgettable Max and Lion Tamer completed the order of finish. The Bobby Frankel trainee completed the seven furlongs in 1:20 2/5, only two fifths of a second off of the Belmont track record for the distance. His main summer goal is the seven-furlong Forego Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga followed by a possible attempt to stretch out in the fall. |
Ghostzapper is a four-year-old homebred for Stronach Stables, by Awesome Again and out of the mare Baby Zip, making him a half brother to sprinter City Zip (Carson City). The Grade I winner also has the Vosburgh Stakes to his credit and is five for seven lifetime. Sunday's earnings lifted his bankroll to $496,120.
Peace Rules Guts It Out Peace Rules has solidified his status as one of the gutsiest, grittiest competitors around with a neck victory over Newfoundland in the Suburban Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park. Funny Cide, who defeated Peace Rules in last year's Kentucky Derby, finished another nose back in third. Colonial Colony, who sprang a major upset in winning the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs last month, finished fourth. Funny Cide had the lead just before the wire, and Newfoundland thundered up on the outside, looking as though he was going to steal the race. Peace Rules, between them, found a hidden reserve and although he had been passed, came back to nail the victory on the wire. Jerry Bailey rode the winner for trainer Bobby Frankel. The top-class Suburban field included 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, who was fifth, multiple stakes winner Dynever, who was sixth, and Bowman's Band was seventh. Devil Time rounded out the field. Peace Rules ran the mile and a quarter distance in 1:59.52. He paid $8.40 to win. |
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Friendly Michelle Scores in Prioress
Three-year-old sprinting filly Friendly Michelle won the Prioress Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont on Saturday. The chestnut daughter of Artax scored by 2 1/4 lengths as the favorite. Feline Story ran second and Forest Music ended up third. Friendly Michelle now has five wins in eight starts, including two other stakes victories this year; the Santa Paula Stakes and La Troienne Stakes, both grade three races. She is owned by Ed Friendly and trained by Bob Baffert, who will point her for Saratoga's Test Stakes (gr. I). Friendly Michelle is out of the Buckley Boy mare Valiant Jewel. She was ridden in the Prioress by Corey Nakatani. |
 Friendly Michelle at Churchill Downs © Emily Hufford 2004 |
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Stellar Jayne Upsets the Mother
Goose Stellar Jayne showcased some D. Wayne Lukas magic when she won the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Saturday. The gray filly by Wild Rush won for the fifth time in thirteen starts. The Mother Goose was her third stakes win, following the Dogwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 5th and the Pocahontas Stakes in November. Stellar Jayne was overlooked in the race, despite her stakes win earlier this month. Trainer Lukas has taken a beating in the media regarding his handling of the champion racemare Azeri, so the win came as a nice bonus for the stable. Ashado, the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner, was the even money favorite in a field that included Acorn Stakes (gr. I) winner Island Sand and top two-year-old Society Selection. Ashado could do no better than second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Stellar Jayne, with Island Sand third. Jockey Robby Albarado was aboard the winner, who paid $61.50 for the victory. |
 Ashado As a Two-Year-Old © Dave Shields 2003 |
Ashado Headlines Deep Mother Goose
Field Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Ashado will face a talented field on Saturday in Belmont's Mother Goose (gr. I), the first leg of the Triple Tiara. The contenders include Island Sand, who won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) on June 4th, and finished second to Ashado in the Oaks. These two star fillies are vying for the crown for Champion Three-Year-Old filly in a wide open division. Society Selection, a top class two-year-old last year, is also in the race, as is the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Stellar Jayne. The other legs of the Triple Tiara are the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Belmont and the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. The Acorn Stakes was formerly the first leg and the Mother Goose was the second. Last year Spoken Fur won the Mother Goose and the CCAOaks but lost the Alabama to Island Fashion. |
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Sightseek Wins, Azeri
Last By Emily Hufford The Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) was a clash of champions. 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri would be facing 2002 Two-Year-Old Filly champion Storm Flag Flying, and Sightseek, one of those rare brilliant horses who has never won an Eclipse Award. Rounding out the field was Passing Shot, another grade one winner. It appeared that it could be coronation for Azeri, who had something to prove after losing against females on May 1st and males on May 31st. Could she regain her champion form? The answer was a resounding no, at least not this time. Azeri struggled home last, while Sightseek took the lead and pulled away to a 3 1/4 length win, her second straight win in the race. Storm Flag Flying ran on to be second, Passing Shot third. Sightseek, trained by Bobby Frankel, has now won ten of seventeen starts. A Juddmonte Farm homebred by Distant View, Sightseek has earned $1,765,216. She was ridden by Jerry Bailey. Mystery remains now as to the fate of Azeri, who has now finished off the board twice in a row, something which she had never done up until Memorial Day. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will have her examined and go from there. |
 Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year © Patty Yount 2003 |
Azeri To Run at Belmont This Weekend The 2002 Horse of the Year, Azeri, will return to her own division on June 19th when she runs in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). It is likely that she will face 2002 champion Storm Flag Flying and star older mare Sightseek in the race. This year Azeri is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was previously trained by Laura de Seroux. The six-year-old chestnut mare has won 15 of 19 starts. She last finished eighth in the Met Mile (gr. I) over the Belmont track, her first start against males. It was the worst finish of her career. That was also the first race that she was ridden by a jockey who wasn't Mike Smith, who had ridden her for all of her eighteen career starts. Pat Day rode her in the Met Mile. |
Pico Central Takes
Belmont's Met Mile Pico Central has established himself as one of the most brilliant horses in the country with a win in Belmont's Metropolitan Mile (gr. I). Despite defeating Strong Hope in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct, Pico Central was the second choice behind Strong Hope in the wagering. Strong Hope finished third with Bowman's Band second. 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri finished eighth, and 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide finished fifth. Many believe that this year's Met Mile was the strongest field of the year so far. Pico Central, trained by
Paulo Lobo, is now eight for twelve and has three graded stakes
victories this year. The Brazilian-bred son of Spend a Buck is owned
by Gary Tanka and was ridden by Alex Solis. |
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Seattle Fitz Shines in New York Seattle Fitz (ARG), a five-year-old son of Fitzcarraldo out of a Seattle Slew mare, made it two in a row with a win in the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park on Saturday. The beautiful dark bay was able to hold off the rallying Dynever to score by a half length. Ridden by Richard Migliore, it was Seattle Fitz's sixth win in twenty starts. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had a myectomy performed on the horse to correct a palate displacement problem, and since then, Seattle Fitz has won two stakes races. He is owned by West Point Stable and paid $8.00 to win. Dynever, the favorite, finished ahead of Newfoundland in third. Angelic Aura, Congrats, and the popular Gander rounded out the field. |
 Seattle Fitz In May © Emily Hufford 2004 |
Storm Flag Flying Returns to Form With
a Win
by Emily Hufford
2002 Champion Storm Flag Flying had not won a stakes race since that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), but broke through with a victory in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park on Saturday. She was the even money favorite.
Storm Flag Flying is a daughter of Breeders' Cup winner My Flag, who is a daughter of Breeders' Cup winner and legend Personal Ensign. They are the first female family in history to produce three generations of Breeders' Cup winners. My Flag does not have a two year old of 2004, but Personal Ensign has an Unbridled filly named Salute, who recorded her first official workout on Friday at Belmont Park, three furlongs in :39.87.
California-Bred Bear Fan Wins Stakes at
Belmont
by Susie Raisher
It's not often you find a showdown between John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher, but that's exactly what transpired on Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. In fact, the Genuine Risk Handicap (G2) marked the second time this year that Velazquez has taken on Pletcher's star older mare, Harmony Lodge, and won.
This time, he was aboard Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) winner Bear Fan, a California-bred daughter of Pine Bluff. Making her first start in New York, Bear Fan sat just off of fellow Californian Mooji Moo and Harmony Lodge early, before passing those two by the half mile pole. And she never looked back. The bay mare drew off to win by five at the wire while the classy Harmony Lodge was clearly the best of the rest.
The win was Bear Fan's seventh in only eleven lifetime starts, and her second graded victory. The lightly raced five-year-old just keeps getting better and better for co-owner Peter Fan and owner/trainer Wesley Ward.
Former Star Toccet to
Frankel, Gygistar
Wins
by Emily Hufford
 Toccet in 2003 © Amanda Saunders |
 Gygistar at Belmont Park © Susie Raisher |
Toccet, a top two year old of 2002, will be transfered to the barn of
Bobby Frankel after another dismal performance, this time in the Westchester
Handicap (gr. III) on opening day at Belmont Park.
Toccet won the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) and Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) as a two year old, but has been off form since. Throughout his career he was trained by John Scanlan. Now owner Dan Borislow, often critisized for his mismanagement of the colt, has decided to put him in the care of Frankel, one of the leading trainers in America annually.
Gygistar, one of the top sprinters of 2002, won the Westchester by 4 1/2 lengths, ending a drought that had spanned since the 2002 King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I). The five year old gelding by Prospectors Music is trained by Mark Hennig and owned by Edward P. Evans. Saarland closed to be second, while favored Lion Tamer failed to fire, running fifth.
Belmont Park's opening day drew a crowd of 6,368.
Funny Cide Victorious In New York Return By Emily Hufford Funny Cide was victorious in the Grade 3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap, his first race in New York since he lost the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown last year. A New York-bred gelding, Funny Cide was ridden by Jose Santos, the jockey who piloted him to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. The gritty Evening Attire was second. Trainer Barcalay Tagg is pointing the chestnut
son of Distorted Humor for the Pimlico Special the day before the
Preakness Stakes in Maryland. Last year, Funny Cide shocked many
to win the Preakness two weeks after his Derby triumph. He has been
lackluster since then, with only one win, an allowance, to his credit. |
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