Abientot in the 2024 Matron. (Susie Raisher)
Christian Abdo
Michael Dubb’s Yolo Train was much-the-best in her debut and steps up in class for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Matron, a six-furlong inner turf sprint for juvenile fillies, at Belmont Park.
The Matron is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which includes Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne [Juvenile] in Race 8, Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim [Juvenile Turf] in Race 11, Grade 2, $250,000 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] in Race 7, and Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity [Juvenile Turf Sprint] in Race 10. The card is supported by the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette, a Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” event in Race 9. First post is 12:05 p.m Eastern.
Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Yolo Train pressed the pace from the outermost post 9 in a restricted 5 1/2-furlong maiden auction event on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course. After the half-mile in 44.57 seconds, the bay daughter of the Brown-trained Jack Christopher easily took command and cruised to a four-length victory over next-out winner Sea Isle City in a final time of 1:02.49.
Yolo Train prepared for her debut at Monmouth Park, where she remained until her most recent breeze in 48.75 seconds over the Belmont Park main track on September 25.
“She had been training beautifully at Monmouth and my crew down there did a great job. They had liked her works, and I always felt she was turf,” Brown said. “She gave me a turfy feel right off the bat, so I had it in my mind to start her here, and she didn’t disappoint, that’s for sure.”
Yolo Train [post 8, Flavien Prat], a $65,000 purchase from the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the winning Street Sense mare Rue de l’Ange and her second dam is Grade 3-winner Georgie’s Angel, who produced dual Grade 1-winner Cave Rock.
Little River Run Racing’s Virginia homebred Royal Companion [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche] is 2-for-2 on turf, including a last-out 2 3/4-length score in the 5 1/2-furlong state-bred Dolley Madison on August 29 at Colonial Downs. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the War of Will bay won over that same course and distance by 4 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Cakey to graduate second out after a fourth on the Colonial main track.
“She’s a nice filly,” Trombetta said. “She does everything we ask of her and seems to be improving at the right time.”
Royal Companion is out of the stakes-placed City Zip mare Not My Money, a half-sister to dual Grade 3-winning millionaire Repo Rocks, who won Belmont Park’s Grade 3 Westchester in 2023.
Charles Biggs’ Harper’s Corner [post 3, Paco Lopez] tries turf after making her first three starts on dirt. Trained by Cathal Lynch, the Speaker’s Corner dark bay wired her five-furlong debut in June at Laurel Park, and wheeled back less than one month later to do the same by 5 1/4 lengths in the six-furlong Listed Schuylerville on July 3 at Saratoga.
Most recently, Harper’s Corner was a pacesetting second to the well-regarded Summer Starlet in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway on September 5 at Saratoga. She is out of the Speightstown mare Toscana and was purchased for $70,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where she worked in 10.2 seconds. Her second dam is Nikkis Smartypants, a Grade 3-winner on turf and a three-time winner on synthetic.
StarLadies Racing, West Paces Racing, Titletown Racing Stables and U Racing Stables’ More Champagne [post 2, Edgard Zayas] dominated her 5 1/2-furlong debut by 6 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Shining Moment in April at Keeneland. Trained by Tom Morley, the Golden Pal bay was then off-the-board in the Group 2 Queen Mary in June at Royal Ascot ahead of a last-out fifth in the 5 1/2-furlong Listed Bolton Landing in August at the Spa.
Pivotal Racing, Madaket Stables and William Strauss’ Side Quest [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] went off favored in the Bolton Landing and landed sixth after traveling 7th-of-8 early. Trained by Will Walden, the Charlatan gray previously graduated second-out when trying turf versus maiden auction company in July at the Spa. The 5 3/4-length score earned a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rounding out the field are stakes-placed Almighty One [post 4, Jose Lezcano, 2 front shoes, hind shoes ON] for trainer Kevin Rice; as well as maiden winners Medinah [post 5, Dylan Davis] for dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse and Brickyard Belle [post 1, Manny Franco] for conditioner Miguel Clement.
General admission at Belmont Park is available for $7 when purchased in advance and provides fans with access to grandstand seats on most days, all areas within the first floor of the grandstand and the backyard. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.
America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.
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