AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
|
VOSBURGH S. (G1), 7TH-BEL, $400,000, 3YO/UP, 6F, 3:59 P.M. EDT, 10-3 |
|
| 1 |
GO GO SHOOT, 4, G, by SongandaprayerSailor Pluto, by You and I O-Repole Stable; B-Devil Eleven Stable (Fl) |
| 2 |
PEACE CHANT, 6, h, by War ChantSafely Kept, by Horatius O-Bogart Kevin Haymes Neil Gorman Mark; B-Jayeff B Stables (Ky) |
| 3 |
MUNNINGS, 3, c, by SpeightstownLa Comete, by Holy Bull O-Tabor Michael B Magnier Mrs John Smith Derrick; B-Dan Tayloe & Glencrest Farm (Ky) |
| 4 |
KODIAK KOWBOY, 4, c, by PosseKokadrie, by Coronado’s Quest O-Fox Hill Farm Vinery Stables; B-Hartwell Farm (Ky) |
| 5 |
FABULOUS STRIKE, 6, G, by Smart StrikeFabulous Find, by Lost Code O-Downey Walter; B-Tea Party Stable Inc. (Pa) |
A scintillating yet compact field of five will go six panels in the $400,000
Vosburgh S. (G1) at Belmont Park on Saturday. FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) won
this in 2007 and just missed last year, so we can’t go against the top sprinter.
Trained by Todd Beattie, the sterling gelding has been a model of consistency
for the past two years while amassing eight top-two finishes from nine starts,
including a handful of stakes tallies. The Keystone State-bred has excellent
positional speed and should not be denied from the outside post under regular
rider Ramon Dominguez.
Dual Grade 2 star MUNNINGS (Speightstown) was a troubled third in the King’s
Bishop S. (G1) last out and has every right to improve on this occasion for Todd
Pletcher. The standout sophomore has put in a pair of exquisite efforts over
this track in recent showings, dominating fields in the Woody Stephens S. (G2)
and Tom Fool H. (G2), so if he can get a bit of a duel up front he’ll be rolling
late. John Velasquez will be aboard.
Grade 1 victor KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) was a close third in this last year and
exits a close second Forego S. (G1). The late-running four-year-old always shows
up but could be at the mercy of the pace on this day, and the setup might not be
to his liking. As much as we respect the Kentucky-bred, we will only use him in
the gimmicks.
PEACE CHANT (War Chant) looked like a winner during the Forego S. turning
into the backstretch but never fired late for Doug O’ Neill. Now in the hands of
William Phipps, the well-bred six-year-old shortens up to three-quarters in here
but still looks overmatched by a few in this dash.
GO GO SHOOT (Songandaparyer) ran his eyeballs out for Bruce Levine last out
when testing our top pick in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2), ultimately
finishing a strong second. The peaking four-year-old has compiled BRIS Speed
numbers of 106, 102 and 113 in his last three starts, but with that said we’d be
surprised if he became a Grade 1 winner on this day. Rajiv Maragh will be in the
irons.