A Triple Crown Update: Change at the Belmont
The 2024 Belmont Stakes will be moved to Saratoga due to a massive reconstruction project at Belmont Park. The race will also be shortened to a mile & a quarter.
The race to 150 is underway, and we still have a few preps left in 2023. I will have previews for the Springboard Mile at Remington Park and the Los Alamitos Futurity in California next week, followed by the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds a week later.
Help support BillyHoSports by making a small donation here
The New Contenders
Bentornato is trained by Jose D’Angelo, based near Gulfstream Park. D’Angelo previously trained Jesus Team, who finished 3rd in the Preakness and 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile back in 2020. A Grandson to Candy Ride, He was listed at 30-1 in pool 2, mainly because he ran off 4 straight wins to start his career.
He’s run in the FTBOA Florida Sire series, securing 2 wins & a third in his last race. He was exceptional in the Dr. Fager at 6f, winning by 7 & a half, but has shown a gradual regression as he stretches out in distance. He won again at 7f in the Affirmed after that, but was less impressive. The In Reality stakes he covered a mile & a 16th, but was unable to shake loose down the stretch. He narrowly missed second place, getting clipped at the wire.
Amazon Deals
The Prince of Delmar
The Bob Baffert-trained Prince of Monaco has made a strong start to his career. As the son of Speightstown, he has demonstrated his father’s ability and speed in the stretch drive, as evident in the G3 Best Pal Stakes when he blew by Muth. Similar to his sire, he appears at his best in a sprint.
In the BC Juvenile over a mile and a sixteenth, he struggled to rally down the stretch. I anticipate seeing him on Derby Day, likely in the CD Stakes at 7 furlongs, reminiscent of his sire’s wire-to-wire victory in 2004.
Get All Your KY Derby 150 Updates at BillyHoSports!
Agate Road is poised to make the jump from turf to dirt in the near future. This Todd Pletcher colt has caught my attention, particularly the late kick he showed in the G2 Pilgrim at the Big A. His sire, Quality Road was a multiple G1 winner and strong KY Derby contender in 2009, but his bid to make the Derby was ended by a foot injury.
Deterministic is trained by Christopher Clement and is sired by Liam’s Map, a multiple G1 winner and the 2015 BC Dirt Mile champion. He broke his maiden back in August at Saratoga. He got off to a slow start in the 7-furlong contest but worked his way to the leaders by the turn. Going 5 wide into the stretch, he bumped around with a rival, then closed strongly to secure the win. He appears to be pointed to the 2024 G3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream.
Generous Tipper is trained by Kenny McPeek & sired by KY Derby winner Street Sense. He ran a solid 3rd in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, well behind the dueling Locked and The Wine Steward. At odds of 17-1, he swung 5 wide into the stretch and showed improvement in his finish. He is also pointed to the 2024 G3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream. Don’t forget to check out all my KY Derby videos on YouTube.
Make-A-Wish For Cody
