Za Approval, Toasting Get Belmont Stakes Wins

Favored Za Approval, runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), broke through with his first win of 2014 when he led gate-to-wire to capture the $98,000 Real Courage Stakes  on the Belmont Park turf Sept. 7.



In a companion feature on the Sunday card at Belmont, West Point Thoroughbreds' 4-year-old filly Toasting won the $98,000 Sky Beauty Stakes .



Live Oak Plantation homebred Za Approval had lost four in a row this year since his fine second to Wise Dan in last fall's BC Mile on the grass at Santa Anita Park. Joel Rosario was aboard for the 6-year-old Ghostzapper   gelding's first victory since the Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT) last October over the inner turf at Belmont.



Racing over the Widener course Sunday, Za Approval clipped off fractions of :23.42, :46.87, and 1:09.44 before completing the seven-furlong test in 1:20.93 on firm ground. The 11-10 choice in the field of five finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Fredericksburg, who nosed out Pass the Dice for second.



"He had a great race in the Breeders' Cup Mile, and then came back and had a pretty good race in the (Kilroe Mile gr. I)," said winning trainer Christophe Clement. "He was a bit disappointing after that, and I'm not really sure why. I don't think he likes the heat. Today was a bit of a cooler day, and I think he enjoyed that."



Za Approval was coming off a troubled fifth as the 3-2 favorite in the Nijinksy Stakes (Can-IIT) in his first start at Woodbine since finishing second to Wise Dan in last year's Woodbine Mile (Can-IT).



"I was surprised to find myself on the lead," said Rosario. "I did not expect that, but he was traveling well. Even when the other horses came to him, he kept improving his position."



Za Approval, out of the With Approval mare Win Approval, ran his career line to 8-6-1 in 22 races while banking $1,165,071.



Carrying top weight of 123 pounds, Za Approval paid $4.20, $2.70, and $2.30. Fredericksburg returned $3.10 and $2.70, while Pass the Dice was worth $2.80 to show. West Hills Giant and Strong Impact completed the order of finish. Joe Tess was scratched while Cherokee Artist and Tenango were entered for the main track only.



A race earlier, Toasting rallied four wide through the stretch to win the one-mile Sky Beauty by 1 1/2 lengths with Javier Castellano aboard for trainer Tom Albertrani.



Toasting tracked in third as Montana Native and 7-5 choice Katie's Garden vied for the lead through fractions of :23.43, :46.67, and 1:10.22. Angled wide for the drive, Toasting seized the lead at the furlong pole and inched away while ridden out in a time of 1:34.49 on a fast track.



"The race set up very well for her," Castellano said. "It was a small field, and the two favorites had similar running styles. I was able to sit off the speed, which is the way she likes to run, and when I asked her, she responded. I like the way she did it today."



Katie's Garden was second, with the weakening Montana Native 2 3/4 lengths farther back in third in a field of five older fillies and mares.



Toasting, sent off at odds of 3-1, snapped a four-race losing streak and earned her first stakes win since the Dream Rush at Belmont last October. She was second in her most recent start in the Seaway Stakes (Can-III) over Woodbine's Polytrack Aug. 24.



"I think she prefers the one-turn races," Albertrani said. "We've been experimenting with her; she won both her races at seven-eighths in the past year, but she can go longer. The plan was to take her back off the speed and I think she does better that way. She does well with this group, but hopefully we can knock one out in a graded stakes with her."



The Congrats   filly ran her record to 5-3-5 in 21 races with earnings of $534,135.



Bred in Florida by L & D Farms, the chestnut is out of the Prized mare Ponderway and sold for $175,000 to her owners when consigned by Eddie Woods at the 2012 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. sale of selected 2-year-olds in training.



Carrying 120 pounds, Toasting paid $8.10, $3.60, and $2.20 as the third choice and topped a $22.20 exacta. Katie's Garden returned $3.20 and $2.10, while 124-pound highweight Montana Native paid $2.10 to show. Tahoe Tigress and Sister Friend trailed in the small field.