Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert officially withdrew Code West from Belmont
Stakes consideration on Friday, according to published reports. The news was
hardly surprising, considering that the son of Lemon Drop Kid had been iffy to
advance to the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Jockey Rosie Napravnik, who had ridden Code West to a 6 3/4-length romp in a
Preakness Day allowance, is now free to take over the mount on the filly
Unlimited Budget. Her trainer Todd Pletcher could have as many as five Belmont
runners. His trio of Revolutionary, Palace Malice and Overanalyze are all
definite starters, while Unlimited Budget is probable and Midnight Taboo is
possible.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez shipped Vyjack to Belmont Park Friday morning from his
base at Aqueduct and said the gelding will remain at Belmont as he trains up to
a possible start in the June 8 classic.
“He was looking around a little bit, more than I wanted, but it was his first
day at Belmont,” Rodriguez said.
After winning the Gotham in March, Vyjack was third in the Wood Memorial at
Aqueduct and 18th in the Kentucky Derby.
“We’ve been very, very happy for the last two weeks with how he’s coming up,”
Rodriguez said. “He looks very good, he’s filling up nice, and I think he was
growing a little (coming into the Kentucky Derby) and it took a little more out
of him than we were expecting, but he seems pretty good right now. He’s happy,
and he’s enjoying himself.”
Rodriguez said he and owner David Wilkenfeld will make a final decision on
Vyjack’s status for the Belmont Stakes after the gelding breezes at Belmont on
Monday or Tuesday.
Joel Rosario, who rode Vyjack in the Gotham and Wood Memorial, could ride
Vyjack in the Belmont Stakes if Orb’s connections opt out of the Belmont Stakes.
If Orb does run, then Jose Lezcano or Cornelio Velasquez could ride Vyjack,
Rodriguez said.
“We’re still hoping that maybe they won’t run Orb,” Rodriguez said. “That’s
pretty much what we’re waiting for.”
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin explained why Incognito will get his chance in the
Belmont. The son of 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy and multiple Grade 1 winner
Octave was most recently fifth, beaten less than a half-length for third, in the
Peter Pan on May 11.
“Mainly, he wants the distance,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a big step up in
class, but the 1 1/2 miles is a big factor if you can’t get it.
“We’ll take a page out of our ex-boss’s (D. Wayne Lukas) book from the
Preakness,” the trainer noted, alluding to Oxbow’s rebounding from a sixth in
the Derby to upset the Preakness.
“We feel he deserves a chance.”
Incognito put together back-to-back victories at Aqueduct in a maiden race
and an optional claimer, both at a mile, before checking in 15 lengths behind
Freedom Child, who won the Peter Pan by 13 1/4 lengths.
“His last race was a throwout,” McLaughlin said. “He doesn’t face kickback
well, and he got a lot of it in that race. We’ve got everything to gain, and
nothing to lose, by running.”
Incognito, a Darley homebred, will be promoted to race in the Godolphin
silks. McLaughlin added that the colt will have the services of Irad Ortiz Jr.
for the Belmont, replacing injured jockey Mike Luzzi.
“Irad had good luck with Questing in those silks,” he said, referring to last
year’s champion three-year-old filly. “We won the Belmont with a 19-year-old
jockey (Fernando Jara aboard Jazil in 2006), we’re hoping we can win with a
20-year-old jockey.”
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