2017 Pennine Ridge Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Pennine Ridge Stakes comes our way this Saturday, June 3 from Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A group of three year olds will take to Belmont Park's turf track and race 1 1/8 mile for the winner's share of the $200,000 purse.

A field of eight plus one Main Track Only entry will give it a go in the Pennine Ridge Stakes - race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:45 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all nine entries for this intriguing G3 stakes.

2017 Pennine Ridge Stakes Entries at Belmont Park

Oscar Performance

Impressive Brian Lynch trained Ringling finished sixth in his debut and went on to reel off three impressive wins - a maiden score by an eye opening 10 1/4 lengths at Saratoga August 20, a terrific six length victory in the G3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park October 1 and a career-defining win by 1 1/4 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf back in November. He hasn't looked great in two starts since however - a tenth last time out in the G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6 followed a fifth in the G3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland April 7. Oscar Performance was terrific at the end of 2016 and hopes to get back to that form Saturday. Jose Ortiz will be in the reins from gate 6.

Secretary At War

Has placed in three of four career starts for trainer James Jerkens - two wins and a third-place finish. He arrives on a two-race win streak - the minor Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct last time out April 22 and a maiden score at Gulfstream March 25 - both in gate-to-wire fashion. Before that was a third and a sixth respectively in a pair of MSW races to start his career. Secretary At War has shown serious improvement with every start and hopes to keep that roll going from gate 8 Saturday. John Velazquez has the mount.

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Good Samaritan

Legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Good Samaritan for his fifth career start. His first resulted in a maiden score at Saratoga August 13 and his second was a very successful graded stakes debut - a win in the G2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 10. He has been equally competitive in two starts since - a second last time out in the G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6 followed a respectable third as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on this track back in November. Good Samaritan has been a factor in every career start so far and hopes to be again Saturday with Joel Rosario guiding him from the outside post 9.

Ticonderoga

Has two wins and two second place finishes in six career starts for trainer Chad Brown. Last time out was a slightly disappointing fourth in the G3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland April 7 after a very nice win in the G3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 4, a respectable fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, a decent second in his stakes debut - the G3 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland October 9 and a maiden score at Belmont Park September 10. Ticonderoga has failed to place in two of his last three starts (a win and a pair of fourths) and chases a second graded stakes score from post 7. Manuel Franco is scheduled to ride.

Bowies Hero

Has three wins in five career starts for trainer Phil D'Amato. He won his first two starts - the best of which coming in the minor Del Mar Juvenile Turf September 3 but he stumbled to an eighth in his next race in the minor Zuma Beach Stakes on this track October 10. He went on to an eleventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and most recently bounced back with a nice win in the minor Singletary Stakes on this track May 6. Bowies Hero will be after a first graded stakes score (second straight stakes overall) Saturday when he leaves from gate 2 with Rajiv Maragh in the irons.

Muggsamatic

Has four wins in his eight career starts for trainer Kathleen O'Connell. He enters off a career-best effort - a win in the minor 14 hands Winery Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay April 2 after an uncharacteristic eighth in the minor Columbia Stakes March 11 and a Starter Optional Claiming score in December - both at Tampa Bay. Before that was a fourth in the minor Juvenile Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park West in November and two straight Claiming score in Florida. Muggsamatic has won four of his last six starts overall and arrives for his graded stakes debut in good form. Cornelio Velasquez rides from post 5.

Prize Fight

Michael Maker trained gelding has a win and a pair of third place finishes in his four career starts. He enters on the heels of consecutive thirds - the minor 14 Hand Winery Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay last time out April 2 and in a Starter Optional Claiming at Gulfstream March 16. Before that was a Maiden Claiming score at Gulfstream February 12 and an eleventh in his debut in October. Prize Fight has been OK so far in his career and steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. Eric Cancel has been tabbed to ride.

Makarios

Has two wins, a second and a third-place finish in his six career starts for trainer Nick Zito. He finally broke maiden three starts back at Gulfstream Park February 26 after a sixth, a second and a seventh respectively in a trio of races to start his career. Last time out was an Allowance score at Keeneland April 26 which followed a respectable graded stakes debut - a third in the G3 Transylvania Stakes on that track April 7. Makarios has placed in three straight races ahead of this weekend including two wins and will be after a first stakes score from gate 4. Angel Arroyo gets the call.

Bonus Points

Main Track Only Entry may be most experienced entry in the field if he does indeed race. He enters off a nice win in the minor Parx Derby May 6 which followed a fifth in the G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 8, a somewhat disappointing fourth in the G3 Withers Stakes on that track February 4 and consecutive runner-up finishes - behind El Areeb in the G3 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct in his graded stakes debut January 2 and the restricted Maryland Juvenile Futurity at Laurel Park December 10. Before that was a third in the minor Awad Stakes October 29 and a maiden score at Belmont Park October 1. Bonus Points has been competitive every time out and is expected to be again if this race is moved off the turf. He has yet to name a rider.

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2017 Pennine Ridge Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:45 PM.