Mammoth Saturday of Graded Stakes Races at Belmont Park

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Mammoth Saturday of Graded Stakes Races at Belmont Park
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Photo: Dave W. Harmon
Mitole is just one of the standouts in a star-studded Metropolitan Handicap

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). For full preview, click race link.

1:22 p.m.—$700,000 grade 1 Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park (TVG)

Grade 1 winner Rushing Fall will look to continue her winning ways when she takes on six other graded stakes winners in the Just a Game Stakes, a one-mile event for older fillies and mares over the Widener turf course. 


Entries: Longines Just a Game S. (G1T)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 4

  • Grade IT
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $700,000
  • 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 1:22 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Daddy Is a Legend (PA)Keeneland Sales Graduate Manuel Franco 115 George Weaver 6/1
2 2Bellavais (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 115 Todd A. Pletcher 12/1
3 3Beau Recall (IRE)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Brad H. Cox 4/1
4 4Rushing Fall (KY) Javier Castellano 123 Chad C. Brown 4/5
5 5Capla Temptress (IRE) Joel Rosario 115 William I. Mott 20/1
6 6Environs (GB) Jose L. Ortiz 113 Chad C. Brown 8/1
7 7Got Stormy (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 117 Mark E. Casse 6/1

2:01 p.m.—$700,000 grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park (TVG)

Multiple grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, who is a perfect three-for-three so far this year, leads a talented field of seven entered for the 51st running of the Ogden Phipps Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, Midnight Bisou will be making her first start since winning the grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park April 14

.


Entries: Ogden Phipps S. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 5

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $700,000
  • 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 2:01 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Come Dancing (KY) Manuel Franco 117 Carlos F. Martin 6/5
2 2Midnight Bisou (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 123 Steven M. Asmussen 1/1
3 3Pacific Wind (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 117 Chad C. Brown 12/1
4 4Escape Clause (MB) Tyler Baze 117 Don Schnell 9/2
5 5Mopotism (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mario Gutierrez 117 Doug F. O'Neill 15/1

2:41 p.m.—$400,000 grade 1 Jaipur Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park (NBCSN and TVG)

Nine grass-running sprinters are set to take on Saturday's 36th running of the Jaipur Invitational at six furlongs. Leading the field is Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' World of Trouble, who is undefeated in four starts since finishing second to Stormy Liberal in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).


Entries: Jaipur Invitational S. (G1T)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 6

  • Grade IT
  • 6f
  • Turf
  • $400,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 2:41 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Undrafted (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 114 Wesley A. Ward 12/1
2 2Om (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 120 Peter Miller 8/1
3 3Dirty (MD) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 120 Jeremiah C. Englehart 12/1
4 4Gidu (IRE) John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 20/1
5 5Diamond Oops (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 114 Patrick L. Biancone 30/1
6 6Disco Partner (NY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Christophe Clement 3/1
7 7Belvoir Bay (GB) Flavien Prat 117 Peter Miller 5/1
8 8World of Trouble (FL) Manuel Franco 122 Jason Servis 1/1
9 9Wild Shot (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 114 George R. Arnold, II 30/1

3:22 p.m.—$700,000 grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park (NBCSN and TVG)

A wide-ranging field of nine 3-year-old fillies, led by Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine and millionaire Serengeti Empress, will be making their first-ever appearances at Belmont Park Saturday in the Acorn Stakes. Serengeti Empress, a dark bay daughter of Alternation , is 2-for-3 this year, taking the grade 2 Rachel Alexandra to kick off her sophomore season before faltering in the grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, in which she bled.


Entries: Acorn S. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 7

  • Grade I
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $700,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 3:22 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Serengeti Empress (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 123 Thomas M. Amoss 5/2
2 2Jeltrin (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Leonel Reyes 121 Alexis Delgado 12/1
3 3Cookie Dough (FL) Javier Castellano 117 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 6/1
4 4Bell's the One (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 117 Neil L. Pessin 20/1
5 5Fancy Dress Party (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 121 Ben Colebrook 10/1
6 6Proud Emma (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Flavien Prat 115 Peter Miller 20/1
7 7Guarana (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 115 Chad C. Brown 2/1
8 8Queen of Beas (KY) Manuel Franco 117 Jorge R. Abreu 12/1
9 9Ce Ce (KY) Victor Espinoza 115 Michael W. McCarthy 9/2

4:04 p.m.—$400,000 grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park (NBC and TVG)

A talented field of 11 will square off in the Woody Stephens, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores. Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control, winner of the grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga Race Course as a 2-year-old, has trained impressively into the Woody Stephens for trainer Gregory Sacco. 


Entries: Woody Stephens S. Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 8

  • Grade I
  • 7f
  • Dirt
  • $400,000
  • 3 yo
  • 4:04 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Honest Mischief (KY) Javier Castellano 115 Chad C. Brown 6/1
2 2Much Better (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 117 Bob Baffert 5/1
3 3Borracho (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose Lezcano 117 George R. Arnold, II 15/1
4 4Complexity (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 123 Chad C. Brown 4/1
5 5Landeskog (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 115 Doug F. O'Neill 12/1
6 6Nitrous (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 121 Steven M. Asmussen 10/1
7 7Strike Silver (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Mark E. Casse 20/1
8 8Hog Creek Hustle (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Corey J. Lanerie 117 Vickie L. Foley 20/1
9 9Mind Control (KY) John R. Velazquez 123 Gregory D. Sacco 5/2
10 10Lexitonian (KY) Joel Rosario 123 Jack Sisterson 15/1
11 11Wendell Fong (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 121 Jeremiah C. Englehart 10/1

4:46 p.m.—$1.2 million grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park (NBC and TVG)

Annually one of the country's most highly anticipated races, Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap offers a rousing renewal in 2019. The 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) has attracted an epic field of nine including two-time Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. Sharing top weight is Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's three-time grade 1-winner McKinzie, who appears the horse to beat on paper.


Entries: Runhappy Metropolitan H. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 9

  • Grade I
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $1,200,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:46 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Coal Front (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Todd A. Pletcher 6/1
2 2McKinzie (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 124 Bob Baffert 5/2
3 3Mitole (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Steven M. Asmussen 3/1
4 4Thunder Snow (IRE) Christophe Soumillon 124 Saeed bin Suroor 5/1
5 5Tale of Silence (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 116 Barclay Tagg 30/1
6 6Promises Fulfilled (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 120 Dale L. Romans 12/1
7 7Firenze Fire (FL) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 119 Jason Servis 4/1
8 8Pavel (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mario Gutierrez 118 Doug F. O'Neill 20/1
9 9Prince Lucky (PA) John R. Velazquez 119 Todd A. Pletcher 12/1



 

5:26 p.m.—$125,000 grade 3 Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs (TVG)

Don Alberto Stable's Limari will attempt to land her fifth consecutive victory Saturday when she tests stakes company for the first time in the Mint Julep for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.


Entries: Old Forester Mint Julep S. (G3T)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 10

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1 1/16m
  • Turf
  • $125,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 5:26 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Coco Channel (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 120 Charles Lopresti 30/1
2 2Smart Emma (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Declan Cannon 120 Daniel C. Peitz 8/1
3 3Mom's On Strike (FL) Adam Beschizza 120 Joe Sharp 7/2
4 4She's Pretty Lucky (TX) Miguel Mena 120 Eddie Kenneally 8/1
5 5Vagabond Princess (KY) Chris Landeros 120 Kelsie Calvo 12/1
6 6Smart Shot (KY) Edgar Morales 122 George R. Arnold, II 8/1
7 7Limari (KY) Florent Geroux 120 Brad H. Cox 5/2
8 8Stave (KY) Chantal Sutherland 120 J. Larry Jones 6/1
9 9Promise of Spring (KY) Gabriel Saez 120 Steve Margolis 10/1
10 10Phantom Opening (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate James Graham 120 Jordan Blair 8/1

5:36 p.m.—$1 million grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park (NBC and TVG)

In search of a fifth win in the Manhattan, conditioner Chad Brown entered a quartet of accomplished runners to compete in the 147th running of one of the most prestigious turf races. Leading the charge of Brown's contingent is multiple grade 1 winner Bricks and Mortar. 


Entries: Manhattan S. (G1T)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 10

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/4m
  • Inner turf
  • $1,000,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 5:36 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Raging Bull (FR) Javier Castellano 124 Chad C. Brown 10/1
2 2Catcho En Die (ARG) Luis Saez 116 Naipaul Chatterpaul 20/1
3 3Robert Bruce (CHI) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Chad C. Brown 6/1
4 4Qurbaan (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 118 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 8/1
5 5Channel Cat (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 20/1
6 6Bandua (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 114 Jack Sisterson 30/1
7 7Olympico (FR) Kendrick Carmouche 116 Chad C. Brown 6/1
8 8Bricks and Mortar (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Chad C. Brown 7/5
9 9Epical (KY) Tyler Baze 118 James M. Cassidy 15/1
10 10Channel Maker (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 124 William I. Mott 9/2

6:37 p.m.—$1.5 million grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park (NBC and TVG)

Mark Casse waited more than 30 years to earn his first victory in an American classic. After Gary Barber's War of Will won the Preakness Stakes (G1), the veteran trainer will have a chance to notch his second in three weeks as the War Front  colt highlights a 10-horse field in the Belmont Stakes. Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus will look to give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a chance to accomplish a rare feat and win two legs of the Triple Crown with different horses. The Mott-trained Country House was placed first in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) following Maximum Security's disqualification, which also moved Tacitus up from fourth to third to give Mott two-thirds of the trifecta.


Entries: Belmont S. Presented by NYRA Bets (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 11

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/2m
  • Dirt
  • $1,500,000
  • 3 yo
  • 6:37 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Joevia (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose Lezcano 126 Gregory D. Sacco 30/1
2 2Everfast (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 126 Dale L. Romans 12/1
3 3Master Fencer (JPN) Julien R. Leparoux 126 Koichi Tsunoda 8/1
4 4Tax (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 126 Danny Gargan 15/1
5 5Bourbon War (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mike E. Smith 126 Mark A. Hennig 12/1
6 6Spinoff (KY) Javier Castellano 126 Todd A. Pletcher 15/1
7 7Sir Winston (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 126 Mark E. Casse 12/1
8 8Intrepid Heart (KY) John R. Velazquez 126 Todd A. Pletcher 10/1
9 9War of Will (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 126 Mark E. Casse 2/1
10 10Tacitus (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 126 William I. Mott 9/5

8 p.m.—$400,000 grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational at Belmont Park (TVG)

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out a formidable trio of contenders in the Brooklyn Invitational led by dirt marathon maven You're to Blame. Since being transferred to Pletcher in late 2017, Bortolazzo Stable's You're to Blame has steadily improved, showing a particular affinity for marathon races on the main track.


Entries: Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational S. (G2)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 13

  • Grade II
  • 1 1/2m
  • Dirt
  • $400,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 8:00 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Marconi (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose Lezcano 117 Todd A. Pletcher 9/2
2 2Campaign (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Javier Castellano 119 John W. Sadler 7/2
3 3Sonneteer (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 117 J. Keith Desormeaux 10/1
4 4War Story (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 115 Jorge Navarro 5/1
5 5Biblical (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 117 Todd A. Pletcher 20/1
6 6Rocketry (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 121 James A. Jerkens 7/2
7 7You're to Blame (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 119 Todd A. Pletcher 3/1
8 8Realm (VA) Junior Alvarado 115 Barclay Tagg 15/1
9 9Forewarned (OH)Keeneland Sales Graduate Manuel Franco 117 Uriah St. Lewis 30/1