ELMONT, N.Y. – Lawrence and Jennifer Goichman’s Shawdyshawdyshawdy will make his second career stakes start in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles at Belmont Park.
The Pilgrim is one of five graded races on Saturday’s card which includes the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, a 10-furlong turf test offering a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf; the Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at 12 furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up; the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at 6 ½-furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; and the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso Handicap at one mile on Big Sandy for 3-year-olds and upward.
Trained by Jorge Abreu, the Summer Front bay graduated impressively on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on August 1 on the Saratoga turf. He followed with a deceptively good fourth on September 7 in the one-mile Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.
“He didn’t run badly at Kentucky Downs. A horse went down right next to him so it probably cost him finishing second,” said Abreu. “I think he’s stakes caliber. He trains like a horse who is promising.”
Jose Lezcano, who leads all riders at the Belmont fall meet with 11 wins, will guide Shawdyshawdyshawdy from the inside post.
Klaravich Stables’ Public Sector will attempt to give four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown his fourth score in the Pilgrim following winning efforts by Noble Tune [2012], Bobby’s Kitten [2013] and Structor, who parlayed last year’s Pilgrim score to an impressive win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.
A bay son of Kingman out of the Montjeu mare Parle Moi, Public Sector closed from seventh to secure a two-length win in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden at first asking on August 15 at the Spa.
Public Sector will exit post 3 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
Mr. Amore Stable’s [Ron Lombardi] It’s a Gamble, trained by Kelly Breen, will stretch out in distance following a last-to-first debut score on August 13 in a 5 ½-furlong maiden turf sprint at Saratoga for New York-breds.
Bred in the Empire State by his owner, the English Channel bay is out of the winning Yes It’s True mare Yes It’s Pink. He breezed five-eighths in 1:01.20 Saturday on the Belmont inner turf in his final prep for his stakes debut in which he will leave post 2 under Eric Cancel.
Mike Rutherford’s American Monarch earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure in a winning debut at 1 1/16-miles on the Saratoga turf on August 8. The American Pharoah bay followed with a game fourth in the Grade 1 Summer, a one-turn mile on the expansive E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine Racetrack.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, American Monarch will be piloted by Junior Alvarado from post 4.
Hayward R. Pressman and Diamond M Stable’s Step Dancer earned a 66 Beyer for a visually impressive winning debut over good Saratoga turf at 1 1/16-miles on September 4 for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Bred in the Empire State by Sugar Plum Farm and Richard Pressman, the War Dancer colt was eighth, 11 lengths off the pace before rallying to an emphatic 3 1/2-length win under Dylan Davis.
Davis, who boasts seven wins at the Belmont fall meet, will guide Step Dancer from post 7.
Glenn Del Russo’s Zippy Baby, trained by Dermot Magner, graduated at third asking in an open 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on July 18 on the Saratoga green. The Cairo Prince grey, a $50,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds In Training, enters off a third in the off-the-turf With Anticipation contested on a sloppy Saratoga strip on September 2.
Jose Ortiz will ride Zippy Baby from post 8.
Rounding out the field are Three Diamonds Farm’s Fire At Will [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who graduated last out in the off-the-turf With Anticipation for trainer Mike Maker; and Joseph Allen’s Nathan Detroit [post 5, Manny Franco], a maiden winner at first asking last out on the Ellis Park turf on July 25 for trainer Reeve McGaughey.
Belmont Entries for Saturday, October 2
The Pilgrim is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:40 p.m. Eastern. 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 https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
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 www.NYRABets.com.
Press Release
Photo: Shawdyshawdyshawdy’s trainer Jorge Abreu. Courtesy West Point Thoroughbreds
