West Point Thoroughbreds, Charles Hovitz, Michael Lyden, and Titletown Racing Stables’ Little Drama stands out in Friday’s $150,000 Tremont, a 5 1/2-furlong main-track sprint for juveniles on Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
The festival runs from Thursday through Saturday, June 5, culminating with the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.
Friday’s 11-race card, which offers a 12:50 p.m. Eastern first post, features five stakes, including the Grade 2, $750,000 New York, a 10-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares; the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup at two miles on the Widener turf for older horses; the Grade 2, $300,000 True North, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older horses; and the Grade 3, $300,000 Bed O’ Roses, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.
Little Drama romped by five lengths on debut traveling five furlongs over Big Sandy on May 16 in a compact three-horse field. The Dramedy bay, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, drew off to a comfortable win under Kendrick Carmouche, garnering a field-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure.
Terry Finley, president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, said the colt performed even better than expected at first asking.
“We thought he would run well, but he ran a touch better than we thought,” said Finley. “With Steve, he has a slew of good 2-year-olds that he and his team can compare and contrast. It’s always good when you’re with Steve and he says that the horse can run a little bit, because he’s got a lot to choose from.”
Finely said the ownership group may have landed a bargain with the $175,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
“He showed promise at the sale but there were two things which gave people pause: First, he’s an Oklahoma-bred and secondly, the sire,” said Finley. “Dramedy is a sire not many people know about, but he could really run. I thought he was a good package, and I think he’s going to be a fun horse for us.”
Finley said the close-knit ownership group is looking forward to their colt’s stakes debut.
“We’re excited about this horse,” said Finely. “Michael Lyden is from New York and he wanted a New York-bred but fell in love with this Oklahoma-bred horse at the sale. He’s a great guy to partner with.”
Carmouche retains the mount from the outermost post 6.
Tritain Biddinger’s Kavod scored a two-length win traveling five furlongs on April 23 at Belmont at second asking. The Lea chestnut, one of two entrants trained by Jim Chapman, finished fourth on debut on April 7 at Keeneland.
A $3,500 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Kavod has already banked $52,500.
Manny Franco retains the mount from post 2.
Rising Outlaw, a $3,000 Keeneland November purchase owned by Chapman, rallied to a 2 1/2-length score sprinting five furlongs in his May 13 debut against maiden claimers at Indiana Grand.
The Bodemeister bay will be piloted by Luis Cardenas from post 5.
Peter Leidel’s Overbore, trained by Wesley Ward, enters as a maiden following a narrow nose defeat sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf on May 21. The Speightstown bay, out of multiple stakes winner Galina Point, was purchased for $275,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The dark bay hopped at the start of his April 18 debut at Keeneland, closing from last-of-9 to finish third, defeated a half-length by Tremont-rival Baytown Frosty.
Joel Rosario, aboard for the maiden voyage, has the call from post 3.
Completing the field are maiden winners Baytown Frosty [post 1, Luis Saez] and Trust Our Journey [post 4, Paco Lopez].
The Tremont is slated as Race 3 at 1:54 p.m. on Friday’s card.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the 48-day spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
Belmont Park Press Release
Photo: Little Drama, (NYRA/Coglianese)
