3 minute read
The skies had cleared enough for racing to go ahead on Friday.
Godolphin and Jose Ortiz both had good days with trebles.
The Acorn was for 3yo fillies and this went to Godolphin's Pretty Mischevous from Dorth Vader11/1 and Occult 27/1.
The Intercontinental Gr 3 for f&m went to Poppy Flower (the third of Jose Ortiz's winners) from Bubble Rock in a tight finish with Amy C third.
The Just A Game Gr1 f&m on turf went to the odds-on favourite In Italian by 3 ¾ lengths from Spendarella.
The New York Stakes also Gr 1 for f&m saw Marketsegment win from Didia and McKulick.
The Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Gr 2 went to odds-on favourite Godolphin's Siskay (Appleby-Buick) from The Grey Wizard 6/1, British Royalty 9/1 and Amazing Grace 9/2.
On Saturday things got rolling with the True North Gr 2 over 1100m where Juddmonte's Riyadh winner Elite Power was in another class and nearest chaser was Strobe in a 6 horse field.
The Poker Stakes Gr 3 over 1600m on turf went to the top three in the market in reverse order – Emmanuel winning from Filo di Ariana and Chez Pierre.
The Brooklyn Gr 2 was over 2400m and here Next had control of the race from the start and won by 2 ¼ lengths from Calibrate 9/1 and Red Run 7/2.
The Ogden Phipps G1 f&m saw a lovely win from Clairiere with Search Results the second and Secret Oath not ever in it – maybe something wrong.
And a similar thought about General Jim in the Woody Stephens – maybe in his case he's saying "paddock". Arabian Lion had no trouble in finding the winning post with our sort of roughie Drew's Gold running a very good race in second – his first defeat.
The Jaipur Gr 1 over 1200m turf saw Caraval get a fifth consecutive win holding Casa Creed at bay – with a fast finishing Big Invasion separating them.
The Metropolitan was another outstanding win for Cody's Wish, his 6th consecutive win. Unfortunately his "namer" Cody Dorman could not be there so we hope that he is OK.
Zandon was 3 ¼ lengths away in second and it could have been further had Junior Alvarado pushed his horse out but there was no need. White Abarrio ran well for third.
The Manhattan Gr 1 over 2000m turf was a cakewalk for Up To The Mark with Soldier Rising denying the second place to Ottoman Fleet.
It is good to see that the "no Lasix" rule is in place at Belmont and there were no catastrophes as a result.
