Man O`War Stakes at Belmont Park
Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 1 Man O`War Stakes comes our way from Belmont Park the Saturday July 14th. A whopping purse of $600,000 is on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go 1 3/8 miles on Belmont`s turf track.
A very strong field of eight has been assembled for the Man O’ War. It is race 8 on Belmont
Park’s Saturday card with a post time of 4:34 PM. Here is a look at all eight combatants and
what brought them to this lucrative Grade 1 race.
Treasure Beach – raced most of his career in Europe and had some good results
there including a win in the Irish Derby. In his North American debut last year, Treasure Beach
looked terrific in winning the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and was good in his
second race as well – a third at the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine
in October. Since then Treasure Beach has only raced twice – a fourth in Dubai on March 31 st at
the Grade 1 Sheema Classic and another uncharacteristic performance in the Queen Elizabeth
Stakes in England.
Point of Entry – has won three of his last four starts including the Grade 2 Elkhorn
last time out on April 27th. Before that he won an Allowance at Keeneland March 12th and
before that finished fourth and first respectively in Allowance races at Gulfstream. Point of
Entry is in terrific form and figures to be a big test for Treasure Beach.
Tahoe Lake – Brazilian bred Tahoe Lake has been hot and cold in 2012. He had a
surprising second in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October and followed that
result up with a second and third respectively in a pair of Allowance races. He went on to finish
a very pleasant second to Point of Entry in the Grade 2 Elkhorn but since has a third in the
Grade 3 Louisville Handicap and a disappointing seventh last time out in an Allowance Optional
Claiming at Belmont on June 29th.
Hudson Steele – Todd Pletcher gelding Hudson Steele has had success placing in
nine of 11 career starts including wins in six of her last seven on grass, two seconds and a fourth
over that stretch. Last time out was disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap
after an impressive win in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on May 19 th to follow up a win at
the Henry S. Clark Stakes on April 28th. Hudson Steele’s other graded stakes action resulted in a
decent second in the Grade 3 Fort Macy Stakes last May. Hudson Steele is peaking and is could
challenge in this race.
Man O`War Stakes betting at OffTrackBetting.com
Newsdad – most recently finished a disappointing fifth in the Elkhorn Stakes at
Keeneland on April 27th to follow an impressive victory over Simmard at the Grade 2 Pan
American Stakes at Gulfstream. Before that he finished a close second on February 26 th
in the Mac Diarmida. Prior to those impressive results Newsdad had a seven length win in
an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 28th. Newsdad will be looking to
bounce back from a bad performance last time out and has the speed and the endurance to be
competitive.
Center Divider – recently finished a disappointing eighth in the Elkhorn to follow
a third in an Allowance race at Keeneland on March 7th. Before that Center Divider finished
a respectable fourth in the Mac Diarmida. Before that was a win at an Allowance Optional
Claiming at Gulfstream on January 21st and a fourth at the W.L. McKnight Handicap in a race
that Muskatier and Simmard went 1 – 2 in November.
Game Ball – has 10 wins in 20 career starts but hasn’t started a stakes race since
a seventh in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby in April 2010. Game Ball did have an impressive six
race win streak heading into 2012 and has two wins and three third place finishes mostly in
Allowance races in 2012.
Philly Ace – has won three of four starts including two Allowance Optional Claiming
scores in two starts this year. Chris Clement trained Philly Ace has five wins, one second and
one third place finish career but has yet to place in a stakes race.
