Man O`War Stakes at Belmont Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Man O`War Stakes comes our way from Belmont Park the Saturday July 14th. A whopping purse of $600,000 is on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go 1 3/8 miles on Belmont`s turf track.
A very strong field of eight has been assembled for the Man O' War. It is race 8 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a post time of 4:34 PM. Here is a look at all eight combatants and what brought them to this lucrative Grade 1 race.
2012 Man O`War Stakes Race Favorites
Treasure Beach - raced most of his career in Europe and had some good results there including a win in the Irish Derby. In his North American debut last year, Treasure Beach looked terrific in winning the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and was good in his second race as well - a third at the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine in October. Since then Treasure Beach has only raced twice - a fourth in Dubai on March 31 st at the Grade 1 Sheema Classic and another uncharacteristic performance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in England.
Point of Entry - has won three of his last four starts including the Grade 2 Elkhorn last time out on April 27th. Before that he won an Allowance at Keeneland March 12th and before that finished fourth and first respectively in Allowance races at Gulfstream. Point of Entry is in terrific form and figures to be a big test for Treasure Beach.
Man O`War Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Tahoe Lake - Brazilian bred Tahoe Lake has been hot and cold in 2012. He had a surprising second in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October and followed that result up with a second and third respectively in a pair of Allowance races. He went on to finish a very pleasant second to Point of Entry in the Grade 2 Elkhorn but since has a third in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap and a disappointing seventh last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont on June 29th.
Hudson Steele - Todd Pletcher gelding Hudson Steele has had success placing in nine of 11 career starts including wins in six of her last seven on grass, two seconds and a fourth over that stretch. Last time out was disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap after an impressive win in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on May 19 th to follow up a win at the Henry S. Clark Stakes on April 28th. Hudson Steele's other graded stakes action resulted in a decent second in the Grade 3 Fort Macy Stakes last May. Hudson Steele is peaking and is could challenge in this race.
Man O`War Stakes betting at OffTrackBetting.com
Newsdad - most recently finished a disappointing fifth in the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 27th to follow an impressive victory over Simmard at the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream. Before that he finished a close second on February 26 th in the Mac Diarmida. Prior to those impressive results Newsdad had a seven length win in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 28th. Newsdad will be looking to bounce back from a bad performance last time out and has the speed and the endurance to be competitive.
Center Divider - recently finished a disappointing eighth in the Elkhorn to follow a third in an Allowance race at Keeneland on March 7th. Before that Center Divider finished a respectable fourth in the Mac Diarmida. Before that was a win at an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on January 21st and a fourth at the W.L. McKnight Handicap in a race that Muskatier and Simmard went 1 - 2 in November.
Game Ball - has 10 wins in 20 career starts but hasn't started a stakes race since a seventh in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby in April 2010. Game Ball did have an impressive six race win streak heading into 2012 and has two wins and three third place finishes mostly in Allowance races in 2012.
Philly Ace - has won three of four starts including two Allowance Optional Claiming scores in two starts this year. Chris Clement trained Philly Ace has five wins, one second and one third place finish career but has yet to place in a stakes race.
