Promises Fulfilled Returns in True North

Out since Oct. 4, Robert Baron and WinStar Farm's grade 1 winner Promises Fulfilled is set to make his return June 27 in the $150,000 True North Stakes (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park on the Just a Game Stakes (G1T) undercard.

The field of eight 4-year-olds and older is bookended by multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Diamond King on the rail and grade 1 winner Firenze Fire in the outside post.

Trained by Dale Romans, Promises Fulfilled last raced in the 2019 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, where he finished sixth after leading early. The 5-year-old son of Shackleford who won the 2018 Phoenix during a three-race win streak only found the winner's circle once in his 4-year-old season when he posted a 4 1/2-length score in the John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) in July at Belmont.

"He likes every track, but he did perform very well (at Belmont) last year," Romans said. "He's going to do the same thing this time—they're going to have to come get him."

On Thursday, Promises Fulfilled was scheduled to ship to New York from Kentucky, where he has trained forwardly at his Churchill Downs base. He posted a bullet five-furlong breeze June 13 in :59 and had a similarly speedy effort in :59 1/5 Saturday on the Churchill main track.

"He had ankle surgery, and since he's come back he's been training very well," Romans said. "He just keeps getting better. There's a lot of money out there for him. I think he'll run well. He's doing good enough."

Regular rider Luis Saez will be aboard from post 7.

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire will make his third start of the year—and second for new trainer Kelly Breen. The 5-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior won the Feb. 15 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park for former trainer Jason Servis, who was later arrested on federal charges and had his racing license suspended. Firenze Fire then placed fourth in the June 6 Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) going seven furlongs at Belmont in his debut for Breen.

Firenze Fire finished behind winner Promises Fulfilled as a 3-year-old in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1). Both horses started in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) but finished off the board.

Also making his third start of the year is Diamond King, who opened his 5-year-old season with a clear victory in the March 7 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack but then finished seventh in the May 23 Blame Stakes at Churchill. The son of Quality Road  is trained by John Servis for Cash is King and LC Racing.

Other True North contenders include Pennsylvania-based Midnightcharly, who has finished first or second in 12 of his 15 starts but races outside his home state for the first time, and Chiefswood Stables homebred Yorkton, who won last year's Bold Venture Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

Entries: True North S. (G2)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 27, 2020, Race 9

• Grade II
• 6 1/2f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:36 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Diamond King (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	John C. Servis	5/1
2	2Midnightcharly (PA)	Javier Castellano	118	Edward J. Coletti, Jr.	20/1
3	3Wicked Trick (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Linda Rice	10/1
4	4Wait for It (PA)	Manuel Franco	118	Edward J. Coletti, Jr.	12/1
5	5Yorkton (ON)	Dylan Davis	120	H. Graham Motion	10/1
6	6Stan the Man (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	John P. Terranova II	20/1
7	7Promises Fulfilled (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Dale L. Romans	7/5
8	8Firenze Fire (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	Kelly J. Breen	2/1