Grade I Winner Dads Caps Tops True North
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Dads Caps, a front-running sprint specialist who won the April 5 Carter Handicap (gr. I), tops the nine-horse field of 4-year-olds and up entered for the $250,000 True North Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 6.
A 4-year-old Discreet Cat colt trained by Rudy Rodriguez for owner-breeder Vincent Scuderi, Dads Caps will be ridden by Joel Rosario for the first time as he seeks to improve on his record of four wins and four placings from nine starts. In his only off-the-board outing, the colt who has earned $512,150 was fourth, only 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner in a 2013 allowance/optional claiming event.
New York-bred Palace, the ex-claimer who won the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) last fall, is the 124-pound highweight in the True North. A 5-year-old son of City Zip claimed by owner Antonino Miuccio and trainer Linda Rice for $20,000 in the fall of 2012, Palace will be seeking his ninth lifetime victory when he goes to post in his 18th start. The horse will break from the seven post under jockey Jose L. Ortiz.
Claimed out of his fourth start, a maiden race at Belmont Park in October 2012, Palace has earned $582,050.
Rice has also entered Marriedtothemusic, another New York-bred sprinter who has been nearly flawless in 11 starts, with seven wins and three seconds, and earnings of $300,966 to his credit. A 4-year-old son of Disco Rico racing for his breeder, Dutchess View Farm, Marriedtothemusic won the Affirmed Success for New York-breds in his previous outing May 12.
Marriedtothemusic will be ridden by regular rider Cornelio Velasquez as he starts from the two hole with an impost of 122 pounds.
$250,000 True North Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, approximate post time 5:25 p.m. EDT), 4YOs & Up, 6 furlongs (dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Eastwood (KY), L Saez, 116, T A Plether
2. Marriedtothmusic (NY), C H Velasquez, 122, L Rice
3. Dads Caps (KY), J Rosario, 122, R R Rodriguez
4.Integrity (KY), J R Velazquez, 122, C C Brown
5. Royal Currier (FL), J Alvarado, 116, D Jacobson
6. Salutos Amigos (KY), I Ortiz Jr., 120, D Jacobson
7. Palace (NY), J L Ortiz, 124, L Rice
8. Bakken (KY), J Castellano, 116, C C Brown
9. Well Spelled (KY), P Fragoso, 116 B W Perkins, Jr.