ELMONT, N.Y. – Belmont Park’s Fall Meet kicks off Friday with a field of six juvenile fillies seeking their first victory in a six furlong maiden special weight over the main track.
Shadwell Stables’ well-bred Zainalarab was made the 8-5 morning line favorite for the event. The War Front bay was expected to debut in an August 29 maiden special weight at Saratoga but was scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Zainalarab was a $1 million acquisition from the Gainesway consignment barn at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Zainalarab is the first progeny out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit broodmare Delightful Joy, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Cali Star. Both are out of graded stakes winner Graeme Six.
Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pilot Zainalarab from the rail.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Exact, a chestnut daughter of second-crop sire Competitive Edge.
Exact has trained at Belmont Park during the latter portion of the summer and recently recorded a sharp half-mile in 47.05 seconds from the gate on September 12, which was the fastest of 76 recorded works at the distance.
“She acts pretty quick,” Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Aron Wellman said. “In a perfect world, maybe we would have had another five eighths in her. She had two gate works. We’re hoping that her pretty pleasing works at this point translate well into the race. But as all Belmont races go, it’s tough.”
Bred in Kentucky by Paul Tackett Revocable Trust and Nick Mamatas, Exact was purchased for $82,000 at the OBS April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, where she was consigned by DeMeric Sales.
Jockey Luis Saez will be aboard from post 2 at 2-1.
Hall of Famer Bill Mott sends out first-time starter White Frost for Gainesway Stable.
The Kentucky homebred daughter of Candy Ride is out of the Curlin mare Miss Frost, who was a two-time stakes winner over the turf at Saratoga and also produced multiple stakes-placed Torres Del Paine.
“She’s been very good and done everything we asked her to do,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s Belmont-based assistant. “It wouldn’t surprise me if she ran well. I think she can handle six furlongs, but I also think she’s one that’s going to be able to go on.”
White Frost has trained alongside Mott’s division at Belmont all summer long and recently went five furlongs in 1:02.21 over the Belmont training track on September 13.
“She’s breezed well and hasn’t missed a beat all summer,” said Willaford. “She’s easy to train and has been very professional about everything.”
White Frost will be piloted by Junior Alvarado from post 6 at 10-1.
Friday’s 10-race program, which offers a first post of 1:00 p.m. Eastern, is headlined by the $80,000 Miner’s Mark in Race 4. America’s Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America’s Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit Belmont TV Schedule.
Belmont Entries for Friday, September 18
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the 27-day fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at NYRABets.com.
Press Release
Photo: Belmont starting gate. Credit: Eric Kalet
