2017 True North Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G2 True North Stakes comes our way this Friday, June 9 from Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Horses four years old and upward will saddle up and dash six furlongs for the winner's portion of the $250,000 purse.

A field of nine will line up in the True North Handicap - race 8 on Belmont Park's stacked Friday schedule. Post time is 4:42 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all nine entries for this competitive G2 stakes.

2017 True North Stakes Entries at Belmont Park

Whitmore

Impressive Ron Moquett trained gelding has placed in 10 of 12 career starts - seven wins, two seconds and a third-place finish. His only off-the-board finishes were a fifth in the 2015 $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and a nineteenth in the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Since the Derby he has reeled off five straight wins - the G3 Maryland Sprint Stakes by a half-length over multiple G1 winner AP Indian last time out at Pimlico May 20, the G3 Count Fleet Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 15, the minor Hot Springs Stakes on that track March 11 and two Allowance Optional Claiming races this past winter. Whitmore arrives in career best form, is undefeated in his career around one turn, hasn't lost at this distance and is expected to be competitive again Friday from gate 8. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be in the saddle.

Stallwalkin' Dude

runner-up in the 2015 edition of this race - David Jacobson trained millionaire gelding has 18 wins (seven stakes), seven seconds and eight third place finishes in 52 career starts and enters in very good form. He has three wins, three seconds and a third-place finish in his last eight starts overall. Last time out was a good 1 3/4 length win in the minor Diablo Stakes on this track May 7 which followed a sixth in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in March, a second in the G3 General George Handicap at Laurel Park February 18 and an OK third in the G3 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct January 16. Before that was a win in the minor Gravesend Stakes on that track December 18, a second in the G3 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct November 24, a good win in the G3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park October 29, a respectable second with an impressive 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the G1 Vosburgh Stakes here October 1, a decent third in the G1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga August 27 and a win in the minor Tale of the Cat Stakes August 12. Stallwalkin' Dude has been a factor in every race the last 12 months and hopes to be again Friday from gate 4. Joe Bravo rides.

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Chief Lion

David Jacobson trained gelding has 10 wins, six seconds and seven third place finishes in 39 career starts. He finished third in the G2 Smile Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream in July and has an astounding 11 starts since with varying results. Last time out was a disappointing last of seven after tiring in the minor Diablo Stakes on this track May 7 after a respectable second in the G3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct March 11, an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track February 17 and a fourth in the minor Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park January 14. Before that was a second in the minor Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel Park December 31 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score December 16. Chief Lion has been busy indeed and will be chasing his first stakes score in his ninth try - from the rail with Flavien Prat in the irons.

Noholdingbackbear

Has five wins, five seconds and a third-place finish in 13 career starts for trainer Brian Lynch. He arrives off an OK second in the minor Diablo Stakes on this track May 7 which followed a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a good win in the G3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx September 24, an OK third in the G1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga August 27 and a second in the G3 Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine July 23. Before that were three straight wins - an Allowance with a terrific 101 Beyer Speed Figure at Woodbine July 1, the minor Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs May 23 and the minor Woodstock Stakes in July. Also last year he's had a second in the minor Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a fourth in the G2 Swale Stakes and consecutive respectable runner-up finishes - in the G3 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream January 2 and in the minor $100,000 Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes at Keeneland October 31. Noholdingbackbear has been competitive virtually every time out and will be looking for a second graded stakes win Friday. Joel Rosario will be in the reins from post 3.

El Deal

Has seven wins, two seconds and a third-place finish in 14 career starts for trainer Jorge Navarro. Last time out was a Handicap score by an impressive 7 3/4 lengths at Charles Town April 22 after a ninth in the minor Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint January 28 and a fourth in his only graded stakes action to date - the G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream January 1. He started his career with four straight wins including the minor 2015 Gold Fever Stakes on this track but has been inconsistent since. He shoots for his biggest win to date Saturday with Tyler Gaffalione guiding him from the outside post 9.

Green Gratto

Gaston Grant trainee won the 2015 G3 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct but has been up and down since. He arrives off a fourth in the competitive listed Diablo Stakes on this track May 7 after a terrific win in the G1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct April 8 and a seventh in the G3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct March 11. Before that was a front-running win with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the G3 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct January 16, an OK second behind Stallwalkin' Dude in the minor Gravesend Stakes on this track and three straight off-the-board finishes - a fourth in the G3 Fall Highweight, a fifth in the G3 Bold Ruler Handicap and a seventh in the G1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park October 1. He also posted an OK second in the minor New Jersey Breeders Handicap at Monmouth Park August 28 and a nice win in the minor Hockessin Stakes at Delaware Park July 16. He has placed in just six of 17 graded stakes tries, has nine wins, nine seconds and eight third place finishes in 54 career starts and looks for a second graded stakes win in three starts Saturday - from gate 6 with Christopher DeCarlo aboard.

Fellowship

Kenneth Decker trained colt has 15 career starts with just three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He made his graded stakes debut in January, 2016 and finished a respectable third, six lengths behind Mohaymen in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream January 30 and followed that with another third behind Mohaymen in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes February 27 and another third in the competitive G1 Florida Derby April 2, 2016. He followed that with a fourth in the G3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs May 7 and went on to an eighth in last year's Preakness Stakes. He was off for 11 months before an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Laurel Park April 16 and a disappointing seventh last time out in the G3 Pimlico Special May 19. Fellowship has been up-and-down in his career and will chase his first stakes score from post 5 Friday. Javier Castellano gets the call.

Holy Boss

Defending third place finisher in this race - Steve Asmussen trainee had four race win streak to start 2015 - by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths in the G2 Amsterdam Stakes August 1 after two minor stakes scores - the Chick Lang in May and the Bachelor Stakes in April to go along with an Allowance Optional Claiming in March. He has been just OK in 13 starts since - a fourth last time out in the G3 Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico May 20 followed an OK third in the G3 Count Fleet Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 15, a fourth in the minor Hot Springs Stakes on that track March 11 and a good win in the minor Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds in January. Other good results include a second in the G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga July 30, that third in the G2 True North Stakes last June 10, a fourth in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint and a win in the 2015 G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Aqueduct. He has 21 career starts with six wins, three seconds and four third place finishes and enters this week in so-so form. John Velazquez has been tabbed with getting Holy Boss his first graded stakes win in nearly two years from gate 2.

Roy H

Peter Miller trained gelding has three wins, three seconds and a third-place finish in 13 career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on a two-race win streak - both Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita with the last coming May 6. Before that were three straight off-the-board finishes in Allowance races in 2016. Roy H has looked good since returning from a nine month layoff and will try to make it three straight wins in his major step up in competition. Paco Lopez is scheduled to ride.

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2017 True North Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Belmont Park's Friday card with a Post Time of 4:42 PM.