Belmont Park

7th-Belmont, $64,000, Msw, 6-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.08, fm. COST BENEFIT (GB) (f, 3, Dansili {GB}--Forgotten Dreams {Ire}, by Olden Times {GB}) took the lion's share of the pari-mutuel action at 8-5 and got her nose down ahead of her Peter Brant-owned stable companion Dovima (Union Rags) to open her account at first asking. A bit keyed up in the preliminaries, Cost Benefit broke alertly and aggressively tugged Joel Rosario to the front through an opening quarter-mile in :23.02 and a half in :46.51. Still traveling strongly, but not overracing,...

Todd Pletcher-trained Quality Road colts Dr Post and Farmington Road worked in company Saturday over the Belmont main track as they eye the GI Belmont S. in one week's time. With Oaklawn S. runner-up and GI Arkansas Derby (Nadal {Blame}'s division) fourth finisher Farmington Road broke off slightly in front of of his Unbridled S.-winning stablemate, and the pair finished together while covering four panels in :48.87 (9/37) before galloping out more or less in tandem (XBTV Video). "I was very pleased with the work," Pletcher said. "I was a...

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has released a variety of downloadable content to accompany next Saturday's GI Belmont S. Branded as Your Belmont Stakes, features include contender information, race-day activities and more. This year's Belmont will be contested without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "'Your Belmont Stakes' is a great way to get involved and follow the action on one of the best days of the year in American racing," said Don Scott, Vice President, Marketing at NYRA. "These interactive tools are our way of providing 'the next...

In these contentious times, at least the cavaliers of the turf seem to clinging to suitably knightly ethics. Last weekend, Honor A.P. (Honor Code) and Code Of Honor (Noble Mission) made a righteous stand on either coast; and Saturday's main event, the GI Ogden Phipps S., now adds Point Of Honor (Curlin) to this overflow of rectitude. In her case, however, the duplication of honors would primarily encompass trainer George Weaver, whose success with Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Carter H. at Belmont last weekend was his first at...

With divisional heavies the likes of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and the comebacking Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) all eye-balling a potential clash in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill Downs in two weeks' time, Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S. may lack a 'marquee' name, per se, but it remains a competitive affair that offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7. Ollie's Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of last year's GI Clement L. Hirsch S.,...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-CD, $79K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, post time: 1:34 p.m. ET Bidding on behalf of Heider Family Stables, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni went to $950K for THOUGHTFULLY (Tapit) at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and the March-foaled bay takes her first step towards repaying that investment here. The dark bay was bred by Gainesway from Passion (Seeking the Gold), dam of GSW Annual Report (Harlan's Holiday) and MSW Giant Payday (Giant's Causeway). The filly's Grade I-winning second dam Furlough (Easy Goer) was responsible for...

A number of conditioners were checking on their charges and plotting their next starts Sunday morning at Belmont following a strong card Saturday that included four graded stakes Last year's GI Runhappy Travers and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) made a successful seasonal debut in the GIII Westchester S. and has Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey weighing either the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. July 4 or waiting for the GI Whitney H. at Saratoga for the W.S. Farish homebred. "He seems to...

2nd-Belmont, $66,000, Alw, 6-7, (NW1$X), 3yo, 1mT, 1:35.81, fm. DOMESTIC SPENDING (GB) (g, 3, Kingman {GB}--Urban Castle {SW-Eng}, by Street Cry {Ire}) closed late to win his debut as the even-money favorite going one mile over the Tampa Bay turf Feb. 12. The 3-2 favorite to go two-for-two, the bay gelding was off a half-step slowly and trailed the field through fractions of :23.83 and :48.63. Still well back at the top of the lane, he was tipped out to the center of the course and veered in greenly, but...

Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) made 8-5 look like a gift, as he paddled his way through the final furlong of the Belmont slop to post a dazzling 7 1/4-length victory in the GI Runhappy Carter H. and in the process, earning a fees-paid berth in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. Drawn outside in a field scratched down to eight runners, Vekoma was one of the first away, but was happy to cede the early advantage to American Anthem (Bodemeister). Stalking that one through...

Confidently handled by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, last year's comebacking GI Runhappy Travers S. hero Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a well-timed decision in Saturday's GIII Westchester at Belmont. Drawn widest in the field of nine, the Farish homebred settled slightly worse than midfield and was kept in the clear as Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) made an aggressive mid-race move beneath Joel Rosario to assume command at halfway. Code of Honor began to hit his best stride three furlongs from home and had...

Recent allowance winner Tap It to Win (Tapit) is now under consideration for the GI Belmont S. June 20, according to trainer Mark Casse. "I've always said, run them when they're good," Casse said. "We won the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Filly and Mare Sprint] with Shamrock Rose (First Dude) [off of two week's rest] and last year we spun Got Stormy (Get Stormy) back off of a week's rest to beat colts in a Grade I [Fourstardave at Saratoga]. Sixteen days will be enough time." A second-out graduate in August,...

With four talented members of his star-studded stable signed on for this test, the main question facing Chad Brown Saturday seems to be not if he will win Belmont's GIII Intercontinental S., but which of his fillies he will win it with. Favoritism is likely to go to Significant Form (Creative Cause), who won this test last year. The gray also captured the GII Ballston Spa S. in August and the GIII Noble Damsel S. in September. She was seventh to Got Stormy (Get Stormy) when last seen in the...