ELMONT, N.Y. – Live racing on the NYRA circuit is currently on hold due to changing circumstances in the racing community relative to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but more than 1,300 horses continue to train at Belmont Park. Over 400 horses appeared on the Belmont Park work tab on a busy Saturday morning.
Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables’ Pat On the Back breezed a half-mile in 49.11 Saturday on the Belmont Park dirt training track in his third breeze back following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on December 7 at Aqueduct.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, last year’s Grade 2 Kelso champ was bred in New York by Sugar Maple Farm.
Backsideofthemoon, trained by Robert Klesaris for Charles Hallas, worked an easy half-mile in 50.83. The 8-year-old Malibu Moon gelding captured the 2018 Jazil at Aqueduct and that same year finished third in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth. The ultra-consistent bay was second in the 2020 Jazil and last out finished third in the Stymie on March 7 at the Big A.
Noda Brothers’ T Loves a Fight, winner of the 2017 Mike Lee, breezed five-eighths in 1:01.04. The 6-year-old New York-bred boasts a career record of 38-11-6-4 with purse earnings of $575,634.
On Friday, Ice Princess, owned by Flying P Stable, R.A. Hill Stable and Corms Racing Stable, breezed a bullet half-mile in 48.11 on the Belmont Park training track.
Bred in New York by Mina Equivest, the 3-year-old daughter of Palace Malice graduated on debut in September at Belmont ahead of finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Frizette in her lone career start against open company. Following an allowance score in January at the Big A, Ice Princess captured the Maddie May in February at Aqueduct.
Ice Princess is under consideration for the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy, a 1 1/16-miles test for sophomore fillies set for Friday, May 1 at Oaklawn Park.
Edited Press Release
Photo: Belmont Park viewed from the quarter pole. Credit: Eclipse Sportswire
