Elite Power Out to Prove He's Aptly Named in True North

Elite Power  and his connections are hoping the son of Curlin   continues to live up to his name in the $250,000 True North Stakes (G2) June 10 at Belmont Park.

The 5-year-old, once he broke his maiden on third asking nearly a year ago to the date of the True North, has been on a tear. He has tallied six consecutive wins, including the Vosburgh Stakes (G2), the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse last time out Feb. 25.

Now coming off three-plus months off, Elite Power looks to hold off five others over 6 1/2 furlongs. 

Trainer Bill Mott had considered bringing Elite Power back for the $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) but decided to go with the shorter distance. 

"He seems to be doing well, but I wasn't confident I had him ready to go a mile at this point in the Met Mile," said Mott. "He's traveled and had a bit of a layoff and we're bringing him back. I feel better about the six and a half than I do the mile."

Among those is millionaire Fearless . Repole Stable's son of Ghostzapper   last ran in the Greenwood Cup Stakes at Parx Racing. After eight races in which he finished first or second, Fearless eased up late and hasn't faced competition since that late September day. 

The other competitors in the True North are Anarchist , Strobe , Synthesis , and Today's Flavor .

Following the True North on the Belmont Stakes card is the $200,000 Poker Stakes (G3T).

Leading the field is Maker's Mark Mile (G1) victor Chez Pierre . He pulled away late in that Keeneland race, a triumph that got the Arnaud Delacour trainee back in the winner's circle. The son of Mehmas  had won his first five races before a sixth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) Feb. 4. 

"A mile, a mile and a sixteenth is probably right," Delacour said. "He can run seven furlongs too—he's got enough tactical speed to run a bit shorter if we want to. But at the moment, I think the mile is just perfect for him."

There will be a familiar face in the field. Emmanuel  finished seventh in the Maker's Mark Mile but first in the Tampa Bay Stakes, four lengths ahead of Chez Pierre. 

Challenging Chez Pierre and Emmanuel are Anaconda , Bourbon Calling , Dreams of Tomorrow , Emaraaty , Filo Di Arianna , and 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) third-place finisher Mackinnon .

Then, in the 1 1/2-mile, $250,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2), a trio of runners back from last year return to seek glory on the dirt at Belmont. 

Twin Creeks' homebred Warrant  finished second a year ago to Fearless and edged out Lone Rock  by one-quarter length. This marks the third time these two have met on the track since last year's Brooklyn. Lone Rock, who won the 2021 Brooklyn, and Warrant finished 2-3, respectively, in the Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn Park. But last time out for both saw Warrant take the Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, with Lone Rock finishing a very distant sixth, 23 3/4 lengths back. 

The fourth-place finisher in last year's edition, Portos , has since added a slew of thirds and fourths in mostly ungraded competition. He also made his lone career grass start in the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T) at Sam Houston Race Park, finishing a distant seventh.

Rounding out the field are Alfio , Bright Future , Calibrate , Centavo , Code Runner , Forewarned , Next , and Red Run .