Belmont Park - Monday, May 28
$400,000 Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap
1 1/16 Miles (Post Time: 4:40 pm ET)
Grade 1 victories are highly coveted, but you would never know that by the fact the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap has attracted only five entries. While the short field is a tad disappointing, the mile and one sixteenth race makes up for it by packing plenty of power. Each of the five entrants stand a legitimate chance to win.
CASH FOR CLUNKERS (Tiznow x Miss Dixie Dreamer by Dixieland Band): Richard Violette trainee has won three races in a row by a combined 20 lengths. Every horse in this race appears to have some early zip, but she is the speed of the speed. Look for her to break to the front under jockey Alan Garcia. This filly is getting 10 pounds on Awesome Maria and 8 pounds on It’s Tricky. She should not be taken lightly.
AWESOME MARIA (Maria’s Mon x Discreetly Awesome by Awesome Again): This filly is just what her name says; awesome. She has won six races in a row for trainer Todd Pletcher, including last year’s edition of this race. Her last trip to the track was a win in the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes where she was ridden out to win by two and one part of a length. Look for John Velazquez to set up shop right behind Cash For Clunkers and reel in her seventh consecutive win if she is good enough.
SHE’S ALL IN (Include x Georgia Ok by Hickory Ridge): Came out of nowhere last out in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne to draw away by 8 and three parts of a length. Before that she was second by three lengths to Tiz Miz Sue in the Grade 3 Azeri. The Oklahoma bred will have to step again to win against such salty competition, but it certainly isn’t out of the question for her to do so. Donnie Von Hemel trains and Luis Quinonez will stay in the irons.
IT’S TRICKY (Mineshaft x Catboat by Tale of the Cat): Last year’s group of three-year-old fillies was among the best in the past decade and this girl was among the top three. She has started her junior campaign in style with two Grade 2 victories. Her best career race came over this track when she won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes over Turbulent Descent last year. If things get a little fast up front then she figures to be the primary beneficiary. Eddie Castro gets the call to ride for Kiaran Mclaughlin.
JUANITA (Mineshaft x Wishful Splendor by Smart Strike): Surprised many last out with a two length win in the Grade 2 La Troinne Stakes over St. John’s River and Plum Pretty. Last year’s Indiana Oaks winner seems to have found her best foot once again for trainer Michael Maker. She is a rags to riches story as she was racing for a $25k tag last year and since then has won over $400k and two graded stakes races. Top New York jockey Ramon Dominguez will keep the mount.
$400,000 Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap
1 1/16 Miles (Post Time: 4:40 pm ET)
Grade 1 victories are highly coveted, but you would never know that by the fact the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap has attracted only five entries. While the short field is a tad disappointing, the mile and one sixteenth race makes up for it by packing plenty of power. Each of the five entrants stand a legitimate chance to win.CASH FOR CLUNKERS (Tiznow x Miss Dixie Dreamer by Dixieland Band): Richard Violette trainee has won three races in a row by a combined 20 lengths. Every horse in this race appears to have some early zip, but she is the speed of the speed. Look for her to break to the front under jockey Alan Garcia. This filly is getting 10 pounds on Awesome Maria and 8 pounds on It’s Tricky. She should not be taken lightly.
AWESOME MARIA (Maria’s Mon x Discreetly Awesome by Awesome Again): This filly is just what her name says; awesome. She has won six races in a row for trainer Todd Pletcher, including last year’s edition of this race. Her last trip to the track was a win in the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes where she was ridden out to win by two and one part of a length. Look for John Velazquez to set up shop right behind Cash For Clunkers and reel in her seventh consecutive win if she is good enough.
SHE’S ALL IN (Include x Georgia Ok by Hickory Ridge): Came out of nowhere last out in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne to draw away by 8 and three parts of a length. Before that she was second by three lengths to Tiz Miz Sue in the Grade 3 Azeri. The Oklahoma bred will have to step again to win against such salty competition, but it certainly isn’t out of the question for her to do so. Donnie Von Hemel trains and Luis Quinonez will stay in the irons.
IT’S TRICKY (Mineshaft x Catboat by Tale of the Cat): Last year’s group of three-year-old fillies was among the best in the past decade and this girl was among the top three. She has started her junior campaign in style with two Grade 2 victories. Her best career race came over this track when she won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes over Turbulent Descent last year. If things get a little fast up front then she figures to be the primary beneficiary. Eddie Castro gets the call to ride for Kiaran Mclaughlin.
JUANITA (Mineshaft x Wishful Splendor by Smart Strike): Surprised many last out with a two length win in the Grade 2 La Troinne Stakes over St. John’s River and Plum Pretty. Last year’s Indiana Oaks winner seems to have found her best foot once again for trainer Michael Maker. She is a rags to riches story as she was racing for a $25k tag last year and since then has won over $400k and two graded stakes races. Top New York jockey Ramon Dominguez will keep the mount.