The six furlongs Grade 1 VOSBURGH STAKES gathered a field of 10 competitors for its $500k purse. The Belmont Park event is race 7 on Saturday and will go to post at 4:04 EST. The victor will gain automatic entry to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on November 5.
POSEIDON’S WARRIOR was a massive overlay when last seen in the Vanderbilt Handicap. He popped at the ripe price of 36-1. A look at his past shows he should have been a much lower price. He owns a 12-6-2-1 record at the distance and had yet to lose over an off track. Bettors will be much wiser this time, but he could still be a value play. Look for Irad Ortiz to press the peddle from the inside. Kiaran McLaughlin is the trainer.
LITTLE DRAMA enters this race after a third level optional claiming win at Saratoga. The half brother to champion Big Drama has yet to win a graded stakes race and it would appear the water is too deep here. Michael Mareina trains and Rajiv Maragh will ride.
Joel Rosario managed to get two second place finishes out of ZERO RATE POLICY, but those were against much lesser horses. Now, Jose Lezcano picks up the mount. The gelding once had the look of a top sprinter, but hasn’t lived up to the hype. Look for him to rally from the back. Terri Pompay is the trainer.
SEAN AVERY is a Grade 1 winner, but his race record is spotty. He appears to have not lost a step as he was last seen winning the overnight Affiliate Stakes at Belmont Park after being off for 11 months. Despite being six-years-old, this will be just his twelfth race. Allen Iwinski trains and Joe Bravo retains the mount. The versatile runner can strike from any spot on the track and that makes him deadly.
Coupled with Sean Avery is THE LUMBER GUY. A super quick sophomore, he was last seen folding in the Peter Pan Stakes on May 12. Before that he was a wire to wire winner of the Jerome Stakes. His only try at today’s distance was a 9 ¼ lengths maiden win. Trainer Michael Hushion is very good racing off the shelf and it looks like this one is dead fit. John Velazquez picks up the mount.
FORT LOUDON is also a sophomore colt. He was a competitive juvenile, but found himself overmatched when trying to stretch out against triple crown contenders. A turn back in distance has done wonders for him. Since ending his Derby bid, the bay son of Awesome of Course has won the Carry Back Stakes and finished second in the King’s Bishop. It should be noted that he is a perfect 5 for 5 at the distance. Corey Nakatani will pick up the mount for the injured Junior Alvarado. Nick Zito is the trainer.
ROTHKO runs a bang up race every time, but has won only once in his last four races. That win came in the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs. Jockey Corey Nakatani was able to successful rate that day. New jockey Julien Leparoux would do well to employ the same tactics. Steve Asmussen is the trainer.
On his best day, ROYAL CURRIER is an absolute bear. His early speed is among the best in the country, but he is tactical enough to score from off the pace. New jockey Stu Elliott hasn’t ridden him in a while, but the duo have two wins showing in the PPs. Patricia Farro is the trainer.
CAIXIA ELETRONICA won the True North at today’s distance earlier in the year. He rallied from off the pace that day and could get a similar set up this time around. Todd Pletcher is the trainer and JJ Castellano will retain the mount.
Breaking from the outside is Zayat Stables JUSTIN PHILLIP. Named after Ahmed Zayat’s son, Justin Zayat, the speedy colt owns a win and three second place finishes this year. He just missed scoring his first Grade 1 when last seen, finishing just a bit too slowly behind Poseidon’s Warrior in the Vanderbilt. Jockey Ramon Dominguez could get first jump on the pacesetters, something that is a serious advantage in a race like this. Steve Asmussen is the trainer.