Tonalist Among Super Saturday Stars at Belmont

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Tonalist backed up his Belmont Stakes victory at this track in June by winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup against older horses on Sept. 27. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
ELMONT, N.Y. – The connections of Tonalist can only wish the Breeders’ Cup Classic was being held at Belmont Park.
They instead must settle for his third victory in as many starts at this massive oval after he added a 1 ¾-length triumph in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday to previous successes here in the Belmont and Peter Pan Stakes.
It was Tonalist’s fourth victory in seven starts this season to go with a pair of runner-up finishes and one third-place showing, demonstrating the consistency that means everything to winning trainer Christophe Clement.
“That’s why he’s such a good horse. He really tries,” Clement said. “This is great. Let’s enjoy it.”
The celebration was somewhat muted, though, in that Rajiv Maragh, who rode Wicked Strong, the second choice in the wagering after Tonalist, was unseated during the backstretch run. He was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays on his right arm.
Much of racing is about adjustments. Clement, one of the most respected trainers in the nation, delighted in his decision to remove blinkers from Tonalist after the colt was a bit too keen for his liking in coming in second in the Jim Dandy Stakes and third in the Travers Stakes.
“I probably should have removed the blinkers before the Travers,” Clement said. “He, obviously, was a bit too aggressive in the Travers. Even so, he didn’t quit. I love the way that, even when he got beat in the Travers, he went on to the wire.”
Without the blinkers, Tonalist and jockey Joel Rosario found themselves at the back of the pack.
“I was probably a little far back, but I wasn’t worried about it,” Rosario said. “I didn’t want to make him do something he didn’t want to do. I could see turning for home they were coming back to me and he found a way through.”
Rosario added: “I’m happy we got the money. He’s a one-paced horse, and when he starts going, he goes forever.”
Owner Robert S. Evans looks forward to going on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park. “We are if the horse is right,” he said. “It’s always on the horse.”
Trainer Chad Brown also expects to be bound for the Classic with ever-improving Zivo. “I feel like we have one of the better older horses going a mile and a quarter on dirt in the country,” Brown said.
In other major races on the undercard:
Beldame Stakes (G1): Belle Gallantey, claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for $35,000 last November, benefitted from an uncontested lead and roared off to an 8 ¼-length rout of favored Stopchargingmaria.
“As soon as I went to the lead, she relaxed really well,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz, adding, “When we went to the quarterpole, I had a lot of horse, so I knew I had it.”
BELLE GALLANTEY EARNED HER SECOND GRADE 1 OF THE SEASON IN THE BELDAME

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (G1): Private Zone, a winner of this race by a neck last year, repeated with the same margin when he barely held off Dads Caps.
“He doesn’t like to get beat,” triumphant jockey Martin Pedroza said. “Once he looks a horse in the eyeball, he just gains confidence. I haven’t been on a horse as game as this horse in 30 years.” Favored Palace ran third.
THIS WAS PRIVATE ZONE'S SECOND STRAIGHT WIN IN THE VOSBURGH

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Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1): Stephanie’s Kitten is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf after she unleashed a powerful kick to get up in the final strides as the 6-5 favorite.
“We’ve been working backwards from the Filly and Mare Turf and believed this filly could get there all year as one of the horses to beat,” trainer Chad Brown said. Stephanie’s Kitten placed second in each of her previous two starts, the Diana and the Beverly D. Stakes.
STEPHANIE'S KITTEN IS HEADED TO THE BREEDERS' CUP AFTER THIS WIN

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Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1): Main Sequence, brought over from England to have his 5-year-old campaign overseen by trainer Graham Motion, rewarded that decision by winning for the third time in as many starts this season. Motion described the latest success as Main Sequence’s “most professional race.”

Photo by NYRA/Coglinese Photos
Kelso Invitational (G2): Vyjack, with Irad Ortiz aboard, rallied for a one-length victory against River Rocks to snap a four-race losing streak that included a performance in the Suburban Handicap (G2) that was so abysmal he was eased. “To see him show up today was very, very special,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
He noted that the Cigar Mile, on Nov. 29 at Aqueduct Racetrack, had been their primary target. They may reassess following this strong effort.
For Equibase charts, click here.
VYJACK RETURNED TO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE IN THE KELSO HANDICAP

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire