Pilgrim Stage Set for Opry

Opry, winner of the Aug. 29 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga, and Somelikeithotbrown, who finished second—1 1/2 lengths back—in the 1 1/16-mile race, are the lone stakes performers entered in the Sept. 29 Pilgrim Stakes (G3T). Belmont Park's $200,000 race for 2-year-olds on the grass precedes the day's main event, the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1).

A $180,000 purchase by Gatewood Bell's Cromwell Bloodstock at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Opry races for Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables and Gaillardia Racing. The son of Declaration of War , out of the Speightstown  mare That Voodoo Youdo, was third, beaten a half-length by eventual graded stakes winner Cairo Cat in an off-the-turf seven-furlong maiden race Aug. 11 at the Spa.

"Initially, the plan was to run him on the turf, and he drew the also-eligible," trainer Todd Pletcher told the New York Racing Association press corps. "When that race came off the turf, we decided not to run, even though we could've drawn in. We entered him back and the race came off the turf again, so I figured he trained well enough on the dirt that we needed to get him started.

"He ran a respectable race that day, and I'd been impressed enough with his turf works to think it wasn't crazy to enter him in the With Anticipation. Since then, he's continued to develop and certainly has earned his way into running here."

Pletcher, who has won the race three times with Seabhac (2017), Eskendereya (2009), and The Leopard (2007), will also enter Social Paranoia for Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group. The son of Street Boss , along with Vineyard Racing's Vineyard Sound, are the sole non-winners in the 10-horse field that has Casa Creed entered for main track only.

Social Paranoia will be making his fifth start and second on turf after finishing second behind Pilgrim starter Forty Under Aug. 25 in a maiden special weight race at the Spa.

"He's been second several times, but he's been training very well," Pletcher said. "In his last breeze, he worked in company with Opry and held his own. We'll add blinkers for this race, and we think he's progressing well enough to take a shot with him in here."

Skychai Racing and David Koenig's Somelikeithotbrown was the beaten favorite in the With Anticipation off an eight-length maiden score Aug. 8 for New York-breds.

The Empire State-bred son of Big Brown  is trained by Michael Maker and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Nedlaw Stable's Rhythm With Soul is also entered for trainer John Kimmel. A New York-bred son of Munnings , he won his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

"He's out of a Kitten's Joy  mare, but initially we worked him on the dirt and he was just moving very moderately," Kimmel said. "When we finally breezed him over the turf at Oklahoma (in Saratoga), we liked the way he moved, and so we entered him for this race on the turf sprinting, knowing it might be a bit short.

"He didn't break with much speed, but he began picking off horses and finished very strong. His gallop-out was also very impressive, leading us to believe he'll appreciate the added distance in the Pilgrim. Our only concern is how he'll handle the break at the start, but once he gets into gear, he's proven he's got ability."

A stakes race on the turf at a NYRA track means trainer Chad Brown is a threat, and he has Klaravich Stables' Spirit Animal entered. The son of Lemon Drop Kid , a $120,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale buy last year, was a handy maiden winner Sept. 1 at Saratoga at the Pilgrim distance. 

Entries: Pilgrim S. (G3T)

Belmont Park, Saturday, September 29, 2018, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Inner turf
• $200,000
• 2 yo
• 5:16 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Rhythm With Soul (NY)	Luis Saez	118	John C. Kimmel	15/1
2	2Forty Under (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Jeremiah C. Englehart	6/1
3	3Dashing Dan (NY)	Channing Hill	118	Michael Dilger	15/1
4	4Vineyard Sound (KY)	Edgar S. Prado	116	Michael Dilger	12/1
5	5Opry (KY)	Javier Castellano	122	Todd A. Pletcher	9/5
6	6Ole Mole (KY)	David Cohen	118	Guadalupe Preciado	30/1
7	7Somelikeithotbrown (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Michael J. Maker	7/2
8	8Social Paranoia (KY)	John R. Velazquez	116	Todd A. Pletcher	10/1
9	9Spirit Animal (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Chad C. Brown	4/1
10	10Pipes (NY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Gary C. Contessa	20/1
11	11Casa Creed (KY)	Rider TBA	118	William I. Mott	3/1