Showdown Kings and Richard Donworth's Vitement will make both his stakes debut as well as his first start for trainer Eddie Kenneally in the June 11 $150,000 Tremont Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park.
Vitement, by Mizzen Mast, was victorious on debut in a 4 1/2-furlong Churchill Downs maiden for previous trainer John Hancock. Sent off at 7-1 odds in the May 3 event, he kept favorite Sonofaship at bay in mid-stretch to win by three-quarters of a length under Reylu Gutierrez.
Since then, Vitement has breezed twice over the Churchill Downs main track, most recently going an easy half-mile in :51 4/5 seconds June 2.
"We've been really happy with him since he came in," Kenneally said. "He's pretty fit and just had a race last month. We breezed him a few times and we're impressed with the way he's worked. Just a cool horse to be around."
Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen sends out Mike McCarty's maiden Gold Sweep, who enters off a narrow defeat on debut. The son of Speightstown was a late-closing second May 18 in a five-furlong Churchill Downs maiden tilt, finishing a neck behind the victorious Wilson Q.
Trainer John Salzman Jr. will send up Jumpingjaggerflash by way of Maryland, where he won by 2 1/2 lengths on debut May 7 at Laurel Park going 4 1/2 furlongs.
Salzman expressed a sense of cautious optimism in giving the son of Street Magician a jump up in class.
"He has done everything I've asked of him," Salzman said. "Did I think he would win the first time? I did. Is he a $150,000 added stakes horse? It depends who shows up, I guess. But he's worked good since his win, so we'll give him a chance."
Belmont Park, Sunday, June 11, 2023, Race 9Entries: Tremont S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Vitement (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Eddie Kenneally 9/2 2 2Yo Yo Candy (CA) Angel Castillo 122 Daniel Velazquez 8/1 3 3Jive (FL) Javier Castellano 122 Juan Alvarado 8/1 4 4Jumpingjaggerflash (MD) Jevian Toledo 120 John E. Salzman, Jr. 15/1 5 5Ship Cadet (CA) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 2/1 6 6Gold Sweep (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Steven M. Asmussen 9/5 7 7Frosty the Giant (KY) Manuel Franco 122 Anthony Farrior 8/1
Casse Unveils Golden Ghost in Astoria
D.J. Stable's unraced maiden Golden Ghost brings both an eye-catching pedigree and a strong string of works into her career debut in the $150,000 Astoria Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juvenile fillies, at Belmont Park.
Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the regally-bred Golden Ghost, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro , is the first foal out of 2019 Prix de l'Opera (G1) victress Villa Marina, who herself is a half sister to Huetor, a two-time winner of Australia's prestigious Doomben Cup (G1). Golden Ghost was purchased for $500,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Golden Ghost posted her first recorded workout in March at the Casse Training Center near Ocala, Fla., before moving to Keeneland to work regularly throughout the spring. She shipped north to Belmont Park in mid-May and has posted two works here, most recently covering a half-mile in :48.50 on June 1 over the main track.
"She's a filly we like a lot," said Casse. "We entered her in a maiden race and it didn't go. So, now we'll try this. She's looked really good in the workouts."
Dylan Davis has the call from post 2.
Salzman will give Jennifer Bird Mobberley and Grady Griffin's Low Mileage a try in stakes company after scoring a debut maiden win from off the pace on May 5 at Laurel Park.
The Virginia-bred daughter of Mineshaft broke a step slow from the inside post in the 4 1/2-furlong sprint and saved ground along the rail down the backstretch before angling out three-wide under Jevian Toledo and running down her rivals in the stretch to post the 1 1/4-length victory in a final time of :53.46.
"She learned a lot. She got off bad from the one hole and Jevian didn't panic," said Salzman. "He loved her and said she'll rate, she'll go to the lead—she'll do whatever. She looks like she's going to be a nice filly, I hope."
Belmont Park, Sunday, June 11, 2023, Race 2Entries: Astoria S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Union Suit (KY) Manuel Franco 122 H. Graham Motion 3/1 2 2Golden Ghost (GB) Dylan Davis 120 Mark E. Casse 7/2 3 3Donate Life (VA) Trevor McCarthy 120 Phil Schoenthal 8/1 4 4Low Mileage (VA) Jevian Toledo 122 John E. Salzman, Jr. 4/1 5 5Living Magic (KY) Victor R. Carrasco 122 Phil Schoenthal 5/1 6 6Closing Act (TX) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Steven M. Asmussen 2/1
