Big weekend of Breeders’ Cup preps at Belmont. Tomorrow, Flower Bowl and Kelso on turf, followed by four Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” stakes on Sunday: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Beldame and Vosburgh (ESPN, 4-6 p.m.).
Yesterday, favorites won first four races, 6-of-9; Bobby Frankel saddled three straight winners, all ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who booted home four in row.
FIRST RACE: After four late scratches reduced field to four, Sir Greeley, class of field making first start since Feb. for Jimmy Jerkens, was hammered to 3-5 despite having just one win, six seconds, from last eight starts. Debussy, claimed last out for 30G by Gary Contessa, 5-1 with Eibar Coa up, led turning for home, with Sir Greeley launching bid wide under John Velazquez. Down length of stretch, Debussy gamely clung to lead, but under forceful handling , Sir Greeley got his nose down in final jump.
THIRD RACE: Jamaican Kev set pace, pressed outside by Red Hot Dawn, with Intuition Magic chasing wide. Top of stretch, 7-5 favorite Temecula Creek, Bejarano up, came through hole inside of dueling leaders big enough to drive Goodyear Blimp through, took command inside final furlong.
FIFTH RACE: Mogul Man, 4-1, dueled early with 25-1 Mighty Gigantor, put him away top of stretch, held sway to break maiden going mile-and-sixteenth on turf, third straight for Frankel-Bejarano. Big wakeup effort for Pat Kelly’s Fogcutter, 63-1 after finishing far back in first three starts; here, in second start back off layoff, Fogcutter tucked in behind pace duel under apprentice Jose Bracetty, made nice run down stretch to finish third.
SIXTH RACE: Chopping Wood, 90-1, gunned to front from outside post 9 under Jesus Ponce, cleared field, dropped to rail, set pace stalked outside by 8-5 favorite Sugarless. Into turn, double bug Angel Arroyo sent Sugarless to take command with bold run, quickly opened daylight. But move turned out to be premature, as down stretch, 2-1 In Command, Bejarano up, rallied to run down Sugarless in final yards.
NINTH RACE: Dave Donk’s Dubliner, beaten favorite in 7-of-9 starts (with six seconds, two thirds) when ridden by John Velazquez and Edgar Prado, got new rider, Kent Desormeaux, finally broke maiden as 2-1 choice.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 7-9-6-9-4-7
55 winners (6 of 6) each paid $702
713 consolation (5 of 6) paid $18.20
No carryover
