6/6/2020

 10  BEL       THE BEL (GI)

  $1,500.000      3yo     1 1/2m  Dirt        126lbs        Preference to TC-BEL Qualifications.

Back in the early part of the spring, I made the predication that Aer Stables would win the TC… with different horses, but I truly thought he had the ammunition to take all three races.  So short of a questionable pace in the KYD, I got one right.  At the same time, I was wrong… my long history of writing off 2yo Champions is now a thing of the past as Brittle closed determinedly down the big sandy stretch and took the 2020 BEL Stakes (GI) by a head in a final time of 2:29³ for the marathon mile and a half distance.  Royal Assembly, this years KYD winner almost made it two of the three TC races, holding the lead late in this one, but having to settle for the runner-up spot.  Aer made it two of the top three placings as Sars, also third in the PRK (GI) took the third spot in this one as well.  Mb Stables took the fourth spot with Graveyard, another horse bred by Aer… quite an accomplishment.

The gate was jam-packed with sixteen starters, the flag went up… the bell rang… the gates flew open and we were off in the 2020 BEL Stakes!  The field moved off right in front of the finish line on this massive oval and Royal Assembly was away quickest of all.  Remson from the outside, City Sniper from the inside, then Sars, Bound Bay and Graveyard.  Charleys Latte was next, Lucky Storm from the rail, then Silent Commander, Orion Nebula from the outside, Angelsinheaven from the inside, Class Edge was next, then Spirited Stride, Brittle from the far outside, Notorious Temper and Mystery was the early trailer.

Around the clubhouse turn and nearing the back stretch, they had a mile to run and Remson was up to take the lead by two lengths.  City Sniper and Royal Assembly giving chase, Sars on the outside of that pair, then a gap back to Silent Commander four wide, Anglesinheaven to his inside, Lucky Storm hugging the rail and Bound Bay three wide between horses.  Another gap back to Graveyard, Charleys Latte next to that one, then another length to Mystery along the inside, Class Edge on his flank, Brittle three wide with that pair, Spirited Stride, Notorious Temper and Orion Nebula was the back marker.

Around the sweeping far turn and into the lane, they had a quarter mile to run down the lane that “makes or breaks champions” and Remson had had enough as Royal Assembly was up to take the lead by a length… but the Aer trio were in hot pursuit… Remson on the rail, Sars three wide and now Brittle up four wide into fourth and moving quickly.  Graveyard cut the corner up the rail, Anglesinheaven trying to find more, Silent Commander, Charleys Latte and Spirited Stride fanning out wide for the drive, Bound Bay to the inside of that threesome, then Class Edge, Mystery, Lucky Storm, Notorious Temper, Orion Nebula and City Sniper was now at the back of the pack.

Inside the final sixteenth and to the finish, we had a battle… Royal Assembly on the inside, Brittle moving up with every stride.. and into the lead inside the final 250-yards.  This was a true Champion that was not about to fail at this moment and Brittle powered his way home to win by a long head.  Royal Assembly was as tough as a horse could be but it just wasn’t up to the task and had to settle for the second spot a length in front of Sars.  Graveyard  rallied to grab fourth a head in front of Charleys Latte in fifth, then another head to Spirited Stride in sixth.  Remson tired late to be seventh, Angelsinheaven in eighth, Class Edge ninth, Mystery tenth, Silent Commander eleventh, Bound Bay twelfth, Notorious Temper thirteenth, Orion Nebula fourteenth, Lucky Storm fifteenth, and City Sniper was last in the field of sixteen. 

Brittle is a 3yo bay gelding by Brutal – A Princess, by A Onez, and he was bred by his owner, Aer Stables, here in NY.  This was his sixth win from eleven starts and the 2yo Champion now has earnings of $2,755.480.  I can only hope that this gelding can race at a high level well into his olden years, and what he doesn’t have in size he certainly more than makes up with heart.  Congrats to Aer Stables and Brittle.

$2 Mutuel Prices:
 

Track: Fast        Time: :48²  1:12⁴  2:03   2:29³
$1 Exacta: 16 – 11 Paid 156.90       $1 Trifecta: 16 – 11 – 13 Paid 1,666.00
Scratched: Geronimo, Jolly Rook

Brittle taken well back after the start, began to move forward into the far turn, four wide into the lane while up to take on the leader, edged clear late, won driving.  Royal Assembly forwardly placed throughout, took over into the lane, headed with a sixteenth to run, battled, just missed.  Sars sat just behind the pace, moved up into the lane, could not find more while full of run to the finish.  Graveyard rated back off of the pace, moved up through the turn, good late effort, could not improve position.  Charleys Latte rated back early, steady gain while no threat.  Spirited Stride rated, some late action.  Remson sharp break, lead to the top of the lane, tired from there. Angelsinheaven forwardly placed early, tired.  Class Edge was not a factor.  Mystery was outrun.  Silent Commander broke alertly, settled just off of the pace, tired.  Bound Bay some early foot, tired.  Notorious Temper showed little.  Orion Nebula dull effort. Lucky Storm tired.  City Sniper away well, showed good speed for six furlongs, folded.

Brittle                            16        13⁸      10⁶       4²        1^hd      Bridgmohan S X  LB     126             10.90     96-2
Royal Assembly          11         3¹        2¹        1^3/4      2^hd      Gryder A T            LB    126      b     19.00     96-2
Sars                               13         4²        4²        3¹        3¹       Beschizza A              L    126       b     26.75     95-2
Graveyard                    7           9⁶        7⁵        5³        4¹       Ortiz J L                    B    126       s       9.35     95-2
Charleys Latte             10        10⁶       11⁷       8⁵        5¹       Davis D                           126     bs    *4.05     95-2
Spirited Stride             9         14⁸       13⁸       9⁵        6¹       Court J K               LB      126      s        8.20     95-2
Remson                        15         1¹        1¹        2^3/4      7²       Saez G                              126      b       24.70    94-2
Angelsinheaven           2          6⁴        6³        6³        8³      Velazquez J R           L     126      s         7.45    93-2
Class Edge                    4         12⁸      15⁸       11⁷       9³       Ortiz I Jr                 LB    126      s         4.25    93-2
Mystery                       12        11⁸      12⁸      12⁷      10⁴      Desormeaux K J      B    126      b        59.00   92-2
Silent Commander     5          5³        5³       7⁴        11⁴     Sanchez M J                     126      s        21.25   92-2
Bound Bay                    8          8⁴        9⁵      10⁵       12⁵     Bejarano R                B    126      s        15.05   91-2
Notorious Temper      6         15⁸      14⁸      14⁸       13⁵     Lopez P                    L     126               22.85   91-2
Orion Nebula            14         16¹⁰    16¹⁰     15⁹       14⁶     Gaffalione T                   126      s        48.85   90-2
Lucky Storm               1            7⁴       8⁵       13⁷       15⁸      Hernandez B J Jr           126      b        30.50   88-2
City Sniper                   3           2¹       3²      16⁹       16¹³    Leparoux J R                   126      s         23.40  83-2

Categories: TC 2015-2020