Belmonts Independence Day racing card is highlighted by the Forbidden Apple Stakes, a $150,000 one-mile turf event for older horses that has drawn a competitive field of eight.
The race is headlined by the Cristophe Clement trained Za Approval who continues to look for his first win of 2014 after concluding 2013 with an impressive second place finish to eventual horse of the year, Wise Dan, in the Breeder’s Cup Mile. Za Approval finished third in the Grade III Poker Stakes at Belmont May 26 after two fourth place efforts in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile and Frank E. Kilroe Mile. A return to his 2013 form would make him the one to beat.
Planview finished just behind Za Approval in the Poker Stakes and is a runner who has shown consistency and class for trainer Gregory DiPrima. He figures to improve in what will be just his second start of 2014. Kharafa is a hard-knocking veteran who has hit the board in 12 of his last 14 starts dating back to August 2012. The Timothy Hills trainee will be ridden by turf whiz Javier Castellano and has captured multiple minor stakes wins including the Kingston Stakes May 31 at Belmont in his last start.
Another minor stakes winner is the Kiaran McLaughlin trained Sayaad, who captured the Dance of Life Stakes last August at Saratoga. Sayaad will be making his first start since an allowance victory at Belmont in August. McLaughlin boasts excellent numbers with horses returning from layoffs greater than 180 days.
The best two-turn dirt horses on Earth will clash Saturday, November 2 in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar! The 1 ¼-mile dirt race features such […]
The summer meet at Saratoga Race Course is the most eagerly awaited of the year in New York, and the Spa reaches its crescendo Saturday, August 24 with the Grade […]
The Belmont Derby (G1) on Saturday, July 6 is the most eagerly awaited race of the three-year-old turf racing season. The race offers a purse of $750,000, and it perennially […]
The most important race of the year on the New York racing calendar happens Saturday, June 8: the Belmont Stakes. A few things have changed since last year about the […]
Leave a comment