Recap: Summer Bird soars in Belmont

Summer Bird (Birdstone-Hong Kong Squall, by Summer Squall) closed late on the far outside to take the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday.

It was a mild upset by the son of 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone, as he went off at 11-1. The colt was making just his fifth lifetime start; he was third in the Arkansas Derby and sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

It was the first Belmont win for jockey Kent Desormeaux, who gained notoriety with two Belmont losses aboard Triple Crown hopefuls Real Quiet in 1998 and Big Brown last year. It was also the first Belmont win—and starter—for trainer Tim Ice, who turned 35 on Belmont Day. He has been training on his own for just a year.

Dunkirk (Unbridled’s Song-Secret Status, by AP Indy) was second after setting the early pace. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone-Mining My Own, by Smart Strike) was a nose back in third.

Dunkirk went to the lead out of the gate, pursued by Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid-Charitabledonation, by Saint Ballado), Miner’s Escape (Mineshaft-Spy Novel, by Broad Brush) and Mr. Hot Stuff (Tiznow-Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman). Summer Bird sat midpack on the rail and Mine That Bird trailed early. The gray leader set fractions of :23.41 for the quarter, :47.13 for the half, 1:12.43 for six furlongs and 1:37.86 for the mile. The track had been playing lightning fast all day, but the tempo was slower than in some of the earlier races.

Turning for home, Mine That Bird made his customary sweeping move on the outside that carried him to the leader’s side, but Dunkirk dug in and fought back. Charitable Man attempted to go between horses but was stopped. Meanwhile, Summer Bird gained steadily on the far outside, catching the leaders with just over a furlong to go and drawing clear to win by just under three lengths. The final time was 2:27.

Dunkirk fought back for second with Mine That Bird a head behind. Charitable Man was fourth; rider Alan Garcia claimed foul because his mount had been shut off turning for home, but the claim was disallowed.

Luv Gov (Ten Most Wanted-City of Silver, by Nepal) finished fifth, followed by Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus-Beautiful Treasure, by Unbridled), Brave Victory (Lion Heart-I’m In Celebration, by Copelan), Mr. Hot Stuff, Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride-Crownette, by Seattle Slew) and Miner’s Escape.

Recap: Gio Ponti rallies in Manhattan

Gio Pointi (Tale of the Cat-Chipeta Springs, by Alydar) rallied from last to first to win the grade I Manhattan Handicap in the race immediately preceding the Belmont Saturday.

In one of the few races on the card where early speed didn’t hold up, Gio Ponti trailed as the field made its was down the backstretch, but moved wide on the far turn and eventually prevailed by a length and a half.

Marsh Side (Gone West-Colonial Play, by Pleasant Colony) rallied mildly to be second and the 10-year-old Better Talk Now (Talkin Man-Bendita, by Baldski), winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf, also closed to be third.

Summer Bird wins Belmont

Summer Bird (Birdstone-Hong Kong Squall, by Summer Squall) closed late on the far outside to take the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday.

Kent Desormeaux, who was upset aboard Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in last year’s Belmont, was aboard for his first Belmont win.

Dunkirk (Unbridled’s Song-Secret Status, by AP Indy) was second after setting the early pace. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone-Mining My Own, by Smart Strike) was a nose back in third.

Check back in a few for a full recap.

Recap: Gabby’s Golden Gal wins Acorn

Gabby’s Golden Gal (Medaglia d’Oro- Gabriellina Giof, by Ashkalani) became the latest grade I winner for her sire, drawing away down the stretch to win the one-mile Acorn Stakes on the Belmont undercard Saturday.

Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado-Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper), who was sold to Darley on Friday, has been having an exceptional year with fillies. In addition to a handful of other stakes winners, he sired Oaks and Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra and now another grade I winner in Gabby’s Golden Gal.

Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union-General Jeanne, by Honour and Glory), making her first start since scratching from the Oaks with a stone bruise, rallied mildly to finish second.

Recap: Munnings breaks through in ‘Stephens

Munnings (Speightstown-La Comete, by Holy Bull) split horses in the stretch and drew away to win the grade II Woody Stephens for sophomore sprinters at Belmont.

The chestnut colt showed high promise as a 2-year-old, running second in the Champagne, but hadn’t yet taken a stakes race. He sat in midpack and then moved inside the leaders turning for home, coming between horses as tiring pacesetters drifted out and opening up for the win.

The final time for seven furlongs on the track, which has been playing very fast, was 1:20.60.

Everyday Heroes (Awesome Again-Lucette, by Dayjur) helped set the early pace and held on for second ahead of Kensei (Mr. Greeley-Private Feeling, by Belong To Me). Everyday Heroes and Hull (Holy Bull-Band Queen, by Chimes Band), who was fourth, both suffered their first career defeat.

Recap: Diamondrella upsets Just A Game

Diamondrella (Rock of Gibraltar-Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band) upset favored Forever Together (Belong To Me-Constant Companion, by Relaunch) to win the grade I Just A Game Handicap at Belmont Saturday.

Diamondrella found running room on the far outside and exploded down the stretch to win by about a length under Angel Penna.

Forever Together, the reigning Eclipse champion turf female, was in tight throughout; she found running room on the rail in the stretch, but didn’t have the winner’s momentum.

Recap: Fabulous Strike sizzles in True North

The classy Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike-Lost Code, by Fabulous Find) showed why he’s special again today with a resounding victory in the True North Handicap on the Belmont undercard.

Fabulous Strike, second by a nose in the grade I Carter last time out, broke on top, but was quickly challenged by Sixthirteen (Dixie Union-Mandy’s Classic, by Sky Classic). The two raced through early fractions of :21.85 for the quarter and :43.62 for the half before Fabulous Strike pulled away to win by about two. He stopped the clock in 1:07.85, just missing the track record of 1:07.66.

Eclipse champion Benny The Bull (Lucky Lionel-Comet Cat, by Birdonthewire), making his 2009 debut, rallied steadily down the stretch but could not get to the winner.

Belmont Day: One-stop shop

Saturday marks the conclusion of the 2009 Triple Crown, as the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes is set to go off at 6:27 p.m. Eastern time.

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird headlines a field of 10 set to race in the mile-and-a-half classic. Although there’s no chance for a Triple Crown, jockey Calvin Borel will be trying to complete a personal triple, the first rider to sweep the three races on two different horses. Our rundown of the Belmont field, complete with each horse’s backstory and details on their connections and chances can be found here in our preview.
 
Leading up to the Belmont is an undercard featuring two Breeders’ Cup winners, two Eclipse Award winners, and countless other grade I winners and globetrotting superstars.
 
Race 6: Grade II True North Handicap: Benny The Bull, last year’s champion sprinter, returns to take on a group of talented older horses, including grade I winner Fabulous Strike.

Race 7: Grade I Just A Game Stakes: Eclipse champion and Breeders’ Cup winner Forever Together headlines a field of female turf runners. 
 
Race 8: Grade II Woody Stephens Stakes: Many familiar faces who found the Triple Crown races a bit too long for them appear in this field of 3-year-old sprinters.
 
Race 9: Grade I Acorn Stakes: Justwhistledixie was scratched the day of the Kentucky Oaks with a stone bruise, but returns here to look for her first grade I.

Race 10: Grade I Manhattan Stakes: A tough field of older turf runners takes the stage just before the Belmont.

You can watch the Belmont undercard on ESPN from 12-5 p.m. Eastern. Beginning at 5 p.m., ABC takes over for coverage through post time at 6:27.

Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hoofbeatsonline for up-to-the-minute updates of the Belmont Day action as it unfolds, and check back here for a recap of each stakes race shortly after it runs.

Preview: Wittingham Memorial

There is racing beyond Belmont Park this weekend. Saturday’s feature at Hollywood is the grade I Wittingham Memorial Handicap, at 10 furlongs on the turf. The field:
 
1. Union Avenue (Gone West- Miss Union Avenue, by Steinlen): Recently won an allowance race on the turf here for his first win in three years. He won the 2006 American Derby.
 
2. Midships (Mizzen Mast- Interim, by Sadler’s Wells): Has a high cruising speed and wired the field in back-to-back stakes wins, the San Luis Rey and the Juan Capistrano Invitational. He’s made four starts in the United States, with two wins and a second.
 
3. Liquidity (Tiznow-Boa, by Rahy): 2007 Derby alum is making his turf debut after winning an allowance race last time out.
 
4. Globetrotter (Street Cry-Cool Slew, by Seattle Slew): Has started just five times due to a layoff from October 2007 to March 2009, but has won three of those starts. He comes off an allowance win at Santa Anita.
 
5. Madeo (Mizzen Mast-Passion Flower, by Deputy Minister): Won the Inglewood Handicap by a head at Hollywood last time out. Mike Smith gave up a mount in the Belmont to ride this horse, who has won two of his last three starts.
 
6. Artiste Royal (Danehill- Agathe, by Manila): Won last year’s Wittingham over the likes of Lava Man, but his only win since came in the San Marcos; was third in the San Luis Rey last time out. He can become racing’s newest millionaire with a win here.

Preview: Mint Julep Handicap

A field of fillies and mares goes a mile and a sixteenth on the Churchill Downs turf.

1. Pure Clan (Pure Prize-Gather The Clan, by General Assembl): Makes her season debut after finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall; it was the only time she finished off the board in 11 career starts. She’s the winner of last summer’s grade I American Oaks and also has a win on Churchill’s turf course in the grade III Regret.

2. In My Glory (Honour and Glory-Here’s Kitty, by Kitwood): Unplaced in her last three stakes tries.

3. Acoma (Empire Maker-Aurora, by Danzig): Versatile filly has wins on turf and dirt and has won three straight stakes before finishing third as the favorite in the Apple Blossom.

4. Sugar Baby Love (Second Empire-Salzgitter, by Salse): German-bred won an optional claiming event last time out.

5. Closeout (Repriced-Deep Discount, by Relaunch): Also making her season debut after finishing fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keenland last fall.

6. Day of Victory (Victory Gallop-Gather The Day, by Dayjur): Won an allowance/optional claimer last time out.

7. Tizaqueena (Tiznow-Issaqueena, by Mr. Prospector): Won the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on Derby Day. She likes to go to the lead and will likely set the early pace.