Beginning tomorrow, fans will be able to enter the Belmont Park Fantasy Challenge at the NYRA website, http://www.nyra.com.
Entrants may choose three jockeys, four trainers and three horses from each of four divisions. Contestants will earn five points for every race their jockey wins and 10 points for each trainer win. Horses register points only when they participate in a stakes race; 50 points for a winning horse, 30 points for a second-place finish and 20 points for a third place finish. Points for horses are doubled in the June 10 Belmont Stakes.
The Grand Prize winner will receive two round-trip tickets to anywhere Delta Air Lines flies in the continental United States and a pair of clubhouse reserved seats for the 2001 Belmont Stakes. Second and third place prizes are a $100 and $50 gift certificate, respectively, for official merchandise at the NYRA store. Fourth through 10th prize is a set of five Clubhouse admission passes good any day at this year’s meet at Saratoga Race Course.
1ST RACE – Track was rated as muddy for the opener with a few raindrops falling. After speed played well on the track Friday, it was a mad scramble for the lead as Proudly Belong set the pace. But then Lord Buckley rushed up to gain the lead. Entering the far turn, Caro Vision made a move to gain the lead and tried to draw off. But Lord Buckley held well between horses and King Locomotive made a three wide move to threaten for the lead. Entering the stretch, Final Count was moving well on the rail and came on even terms with Lord Buckley, who regained the lead. But Final Count had the momentum and went on for the victory at 40-1.
2ND RACE – With the scratch of Light Bail, this became a paceless race. Cornelio Velasquez sent Lap Kitty to the front and set pedestrian fractions of :25, :50 2/5 and 1:16 2/5. On the far turn Dittany made a three wide move towards the lead while Personal Fighter started her run on the rail. Entering the stretch Personal Fighter was on even terms and despite Lap Kitty leaning in slighty, Personal Fighter gained the lead. Personal Fighter was changing leads constantly in the stretch and then jumped tire tracks near the wire. But she was comfortably in front for the victory.
3RD RACE – Edgar Prado picked up the mount on Uncle T., who was making his first start off the Roy Sedlacek claim. Prado changed tactics by sending Uncle T. to the front and was never pressured as he went on for the victory. Top Bunk chased the pace while wide and ran well in the stretch to finish second. Favored Star of Rio chased the pace on the rail and fell back to dead-heat for fifth.
5TH RACE – Diversification was bumped at the start with On His Honor and Pinebloom. He then rushed up to stalk the pace on the outisde. Diversification was three wide turning for home and battled gamely but couldn’t catch Pete’s Sake for the victory. Pete’s Sake broke well and set the pace while Agree pressed in second. Prado kept him under a drive throughout the stretch drive on the rail to gain the victory.
7TH RACE – Rhinestone Dewey stalked the pace from the outside while third and then made a three wide move to gain the lead while turning for home. She looked like she would draw away for the victory, but Broomesse had another idea. Broomesse was bumped around at the start and then rated off the early pace. On the far turn she started her run along the rail. She went through a hole in midtsretch and went into another gear to gain the victory.
YESTERDAY’S CLAIMS
2ND RACE: Supernal ($20,000) by Dennis Lalman; Lap Kitty ($19,000) by John DeStefano; Personal Fighter ($20,000) by Carlos Martin
3RD RACE: Star of Rio ($50,000) by Joe Imperio
4TH RACE: My Guy Monty ($35,000) by Jeff Odintz; Knight Rounds ($35,000) by Robert Barbara
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 1-4-1-3-3-6
No winners
15 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $1,346
Carryover: $60,611.12