Leon Gets Acquainted With Belmont Park

When jockey Sonny Leon rounded the clubhouse turn and headed into Belmont Park's seemingly endless backstretch for the first time in his life, he had just one word to say.

"Wow," he said.

Leon, the regular rider for Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike , wheeled around the huge 1 1/2-mile oval at Belmont Park June 10 while working a horse in the morning and riding in a turf race for trainer Oscar Barrera III in preparation for the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

For Leon, who is based primarily in the Midwest, the two mounts were arranged to give him a taste of what he and Rich Strike will face Saturday when they circle Belmont Park as the 7-2 third choice in the 12-furlong final leg of the Triple Crown.

"I want to know everything I can about the track. Everything I can learn about Belmont Park will be good for me and for Rich Strike too," said Leon, who rode Love Unlimited  to an eighth-place finish in Friday's second race, a $40,000 maiden claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.

Leon, who gave Rich Strike a masterful ride in closing from 18th to win the Run for the Roses, also has the mount on Vincent  in Saturday's first race, though it's only a six-furlong sprint—half the distance of the Belmont Stakes.

"This track is way different than Churchill Downs," Leon said, touching on the wide, sweeping turns at Belmont. "But I think (Rich Strike) can get comfortable on this track."