GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has expanded its overall investment in the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet and the July 4th Racing Festival from 56 stakes worth $16.85 million in 2024 to 55 stakes totaling $17,250,000 this year, according to press releases from the racing entity on Friday. Highlighted by the 157th edition of the Grade I, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7 at Saratoga, the five-day 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 27 stakes...

There's no easy fix for the Triple Crown or one that satisfies all three tracks. But a fix is needed. With most trainers reluctant to run their horses back on just two weeks' rest, the GI Preakness S. is reeling. The connections of Rich Strike (Keen Ice), the GI Kentucky Derby winner, committed what would have been considered blasphemy 20 years ago and skipped the Preakness to rest up for the GI Belmont S. This year, Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was the only Derby starter to run back in...

America's Day at the Races will broadcast a special half-hour show on FS2 Tuesday, June 1 from 11-11:30 a.m. that will air the draw for the June 5 GI Belmont S., presented by NYRA Bets. Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races the following week are (EST): Thursday, May 27 (FS2: 5 - 8:30 p.m.) Friday, May 28 (FS2: 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.) Saturday, May 29 (FS2: 12:30 - 6 p.m.) Sunday, May 30 (Bally Sports SoCal: 3 - 5:30...

Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) breezed six furlongs over Belmont's main track Wednesday in advance of next weekend's GI Belmont S. Prior to the move, Rebel's Romance, accompanied by Desert Peace (Curlin), briefly schooled in the paddock before heading to the track and jogging clockwise in front of the grandstand and around the far turn. The G2 UAE Derby winner tracked Desert Peace along the outside as NYRA clockers caught the duo through initial splits of :25.00, :36.80 and 1:00.58. Just past the quarter-pole, Rebel's Romance took a slight...

Godolphin's Essential Quality (Tapit) breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.80 at Churchill Downs Saturday morning. The move was the fifth fastest of 40 horses at the distance. The grey worked in company with 5-year-old graded stakes winner Night Ops (Warrior's Reward) through early fractions of :24.20 and :47.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Named the juvenile champion colt following a victory in last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, trained by Brad Cox-trained colt won the GIII Southwest S. and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. before...

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) visited Belmont's main track for the first time Friday to begin preparations for a start in the June 5 GI Belmont S. Trained by Hideyuki Mori said the Kentucky-bred was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont last Monday following his seventh-place finish in the GI Preakness S. "It's been 15 years since I've been here," said the 62-year-old with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter.  "I forgot how big it...

A quartet of Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters--Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Desert Peace (Curlin), Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire})--breezed at Belmont Saturday morning. G2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the GI Belmont S., breezed on the fast main track in company with GII True North S. contender Desert Peace. Hitting the track at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe aboard Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot on Desert Peace, the pair was caught by NYRA clockers in 1:01.05, galloping out in...

The post-position draw for the GI Belmont S. will be held Tuesday, June 1 at 11 a.m. in the Belmont Cafe at Belmont Park. The 153rd Belmont, which takes place Saturday, June 5, heads a three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off Thursday, June 3 and will include 17 stakes races--including eight Grade Is--to be contested on Belmont day. The post-position draw will be followed by a Q&A session with selected trainers and owners moderated by NYRA. The Belmont draw will air live on FS2 beginning at 11 a.m. A...

Classic hero Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who races for John and Diane Fradkin, shipped in to Belmont Park around 10 a.m. Monday ahead of an intended start in the June 5 $1.5-million GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets. The colt earned a 102 Beyer for his GI Preakness S. heroics at Pimlico Saturday for trainer Michael McCarthy. He will be stabled with trainer Jonathan Thomas. Groom Leonel Orantes Aguilar reported that Rombauer had vanned to New York "very well". "It seems like he's in good physical shape," McCarthy said, who...