Posts Assigned as Crown Bid Looms
By Christie DeBernardis
It was a packed house in Belmont’s Garden Terrace yesterday morning, where the connections of the GI Belmont S. contenders gathered with a large group of media to draw the post positions for the 146th running of the Triple Crown’s third jewel.
First to join NYRA analyst Andy Serling at the microphone were the connections of 3-5 morning line favorite and Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), who drew post two.
The always smiling Steve Coburn, part owner and breeder of the flashy chestnut, was full of praise for trainer Art Sherman, his team and, of course, California Chrome.
“He’s an amazing animal,” said the Nevada resident. “He really, really is. I wish every horse owner out there could have a horse like this, because he is one in a bazillion. This horse could have been born to anybody. He was born to us and we are very blessed with that.”
Coburn continued, “He’s America’s horse because we’ve got the entire country, if not the entire world, behind us. We just hope and pray that everybody gets a clean break, every horse has a safe trip and everybody gets to come home clean, and let the chips fall where they may. That’s all we can say on this deal. We’re hoping to see everybody in the winner’s circle.”
Trainer Billy Gowan and his team let out whoops of joy when GI Preakness S. runner-up Ride On Curlin (Curlin) was assigned post five. Gowan was accompanied to the podium by his wife Tracy and daughter Alicia to comment on the 12-1 fourth choice.
“Well, I thought all along this [1 1/2 miles] might be his best distance,” the conditioner remarked. “You know he’s got the pedigree to do it and he never really quits, so I’m looking forward to running him.”
New York-based Rick Violette, Jr., trainer of 20-1 shot Samraat (Noble Causeway), could not be any happier with how the My Meadowview Farm homebred comes into this race. The two-time Grade III winner and GI Twinspires.com Wood Memorial S. runner-up had been training at the Big A, but arrived at Belmont just a few minutes before Violette took the stage.
“I don’t think we would have changed a day or a stride,” the conditioner said. “Everything has been eerily spot on. He was breezing the other day. He doesn’t break stop watches, but it was a goosebump breeze as easily as he accelerated and galloped, so I wouldn’t change anything.”
The somewhat camera shy Jimmy Jerkens was the next to make his way through the throng of media crowding the podium. His and Centennial Farms’s GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial victor Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) was made the second choice at 6-1 and will exit post nine. He also would have preferred to be a few spots closer to the rail, but the son of Hall of Fame conditioner Allen Jerkens was glad the bay was not marooned in the far outside post. “At least he’s got two horses shielding him from the crowd,” said Jerkens. “Maybe that’ll help a little bit.”
Drawn widest is GII Peter Pan S. winner Tonalist (Tapit), who was represented at Wednesday’s breakfast by owner Robert ‘Shel’ Evans. Evans’s father owned Pleasant Colony, who lost the 1981 Triple Crown in a photo finish. Serling asked the soft-spoken Evans if he felt Tonalist had a chance to atone for that loss.
“Well, his mother is by Pleasant Colony, so there is a close connection,” he noted. “I would be thrilled with that, but we’re just hoping to get part of it.”
Commanding Curve (Master Command) drew the four hole and was given a 15-1 quote on Eric Donovan’s morning line. Very pleased with the GI Kentucky Derby runner-up’s draw, trainer Dallas Stewart said the bay had been coming along well since the Derby and he will leave things in the hands of jockey Shaun Bridgmohan on race day.
“We’ve got a great rider, Shaun Bridgmohan–I’m sure he’ll stay in touch with the race, and he’s got a lot of confidence in the horse, so I’m going to put it in his hands and we’re going to see, but it’s going to be a great race,” offered Stewart. The Triple Crown on the line, a lot of excitement, so I hope we get a big crowd.”
Last year’s Belmont-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher sends out two contenders Saturday in Peter Pan runner-up Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and four-place finisher Matterhorn (Tapit). Ever the professional, the Eclipse winner was realistic about his longshot runners’ chances.
“They both need to improve,” he commented. “They both need to run their best races to be a part of it. But Commissioner being a son of A.P. Indy out of a Touch Gold mare, two winners of the Belmont, I think he was always a horse we felt would improve with a little distance, and we felt the same way about Matterhorn.”