Today’s feature race is the 13th running of the Grade 2 Genuine Risk Stakes. Run at six furlongs, it features a field of nine quality fillies and mares. Co-starting highweights are California shipper Enjoy The Moment and Harpia.
2ND RACE – Gold Floridays broke on top then rated behind early pace. She took over lead turning for home and held off Bayou Blues. Bayou was running on wrong lead in stretch but still made up ground on the leader till the end. Danni’s Diamond was rank throughout and Joe Bravo could do nothing but hold on just to attempt to get the horse under control.
3RD RACE – Golden Tent was in great striking position racing on rail down backstretch. Around far turn he was held up by wall of horses and then checked around the far turn entering stretch. Diane Nelson angled him to the outside, where he found a hole and closed strong to the wire. Carson County was racing on the wrong lead in the stretch but still took over lead near wire and won photo over Golden Tent.
5TH RACE – Designer Prospect made a strong move to lead around far turn on outside. In stretch he started to bear out and Bravo hit him right handed with whip. Horse then hopped in the air and started to bear in. He seemed to make contact with Oranje Boven and force him to check. Everyone expected a stewards inquiry but nothing was called. Asked after race about it, Ariel Smith, rider of Oranje Boven, said he was brushed by Designer Prospect but not hit as it appeared on TV. Since he felt he really wasn’t interfered, he didn’t claim foul on Designer Prospect, who finished third while Oranje Boven finished sixth. First Watch had a wide trip, closed well for second in making first start off Robert Klesaris claim.
7TH RACE – Polina broke slow but made the famed Belmont Balcony move to catch early pacesetter Palmetto Bay in stretch for the victory. One More Flag was in good position around far turn but was forced inside when Polina made his move. Ariel Smith saw a hole and went for it but got shut off by tiring Meteoric. Hole opened up again but he lost his momentum and was a non-factor.
8TH RACE – Golden Missile stalked early pace and took lead near top of the stretch. Around the eighth pole he took a bad step and wasn’t moving as fluidly, but he probably would have been caught by Lite Approval anyway, who woke up and looked great in here.
9TH RACE – John Velazquez was thrown from Rose Esthern prior to start of race and walked over to outside rail holding his right forearm in obvious pain. Horse was worked up and was late scratch. Velazquez was diagnosed as having an abrasion to his arm but he will be OK. Smooth Blues was saving ground and asked for run in backstretch. Entering far turn he bumped with eventual winner Red Knickers and then the two of them ran as team into stretch. Red Knickers went outside and continued his momentum to get the victory.
PICK SIXWinning numbers: 6-6-1-5-1-1One winner receives $39,097135 consolation (5 of 6) winnerseach receives $96.50No carryover.