2018 Ogden Phipps Contenders & Odds at Belmont Park
2018 Ogden Phipps Odds & Entries
Race 3 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 12:47 PM
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unbridled Mo | 4-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 2 | Ivy Bell | 12-1 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher |
| 3 | Highway Star | 20-1 | Luis Saez | Rodrigo Ubillo |
| 4 | Pacific Wind | 7-2 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 5 | American Gal | 3-1 | Jose Ortiz | Simon Callaghan |
| 6 | Abel Tasman | 8-5 | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
| 7 | Unchained Melody | 12-1 | Joel Rosario | Brian Lynch |
| 8 | Berned | 30-1 | Joe Bravo | H. Motion |
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Unbridled Mo breezes half-mile for G1 Ogden Phipps
Red Oak Stable's homebred Grade 1 winner Unbridled Mo breezed a half-mile in 48.92 seconds Thursday morning on the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the Grade 1 Odgen Phipps on Belmont Stakes Day.
The 5-year-old Todd Pletcher trainee is expected to make her third start of the year in the Phipps. By Uncle Mo, Unbridled Mo returned from a 10-month layoff this spring with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park in February. She followed up with a 2 1/4-length victory over champion female sprinter Unique Bella in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 13 at Oaklawn Park.
"With her first start, we felt like she was going to need that race," said Pletcher. "So, she might've been a little short of her best, but it worked out well and set her up nicely for the Apple Blossom. It was great to get a Grade 1 win with her and we'll keep moving forward."
The Ogden Phipps is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 3 at Churchill Downs.
American Gal could stretch out in distance for G1 Ogden Phipps
Kaleem Shah's multiple graded-stakes winner American Gal is slated to run at Belmont Park during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and will either go in the Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps or the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o' Roses Invitational, trainer Simon Callaghan said.
American Gal has posted three graded stakes in her last four starts, including a two-length score in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on May 5 at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Concord Point filly has since breezed twice at Santa Anita, going five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Thursday.
Callaghan said a planned breeze next week will help determine if American Gal stays at a more comfortable distance of seven furlongs and goes in the Bed o' Roses on Friday, June 8, or will stretch out to the Ogden Phipps distance of 1 1/16 miles on Belmont Stakes Day, June 9.
"I think it's within her comfort zone," Callaghan said about the Ogden Phipps, which is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff on November 3 at Churchill. "She's a filly who is obviously very fast and also very relaxed. I think it's definitely within her range. We're not totally committed to it yet, but we'll see."
As a 3-year-old, American Gal won her first start at Belmont Park, going gate-to-wire in win the 6 ½-furlong Grade 3 Victory Ride on Big Sandy and followed that effort with a four-length win over Faypien in the Grade 1 Test over seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.
The Kentucky homebred received a freshening after the win at the Spa and returned to run fourth in the Grade 1 Madison on April 7 before her Humana win.
"I pretty much know the fillies who will be running against her, so it's something I'll chat about with the owner," Callaghan said. "We have another breeze to go and we'll see after that."
In eight career starts, American Gal has posted five wins with each victory coming on a different track - Del Mar, Santa Anita, Belmont, Saratoga and Churchill Downs - while posting a runner-up effort at Los Alamitos. Callaghan said her shipping ability, along with her previous victory over Belmont's main track, gives him confidence to send her anywhere.
"It's nice in regards to winning at different tracks. She's shown she's a versatile filly," Callaghan said. "She ships very well. She has a firm disposition and constitution. She handles everything well, and the fact that she's won over that surface before is a benefit."
