The BEL (Grade 1)- $2,000.00 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
June 6, 2026

One of the most frequently discussed topics amongst virtual trainers is whether or not the TC can ever be won within our game. It’s a difficult enough feat in the real world as is, and something that has never happened since TC races began in the game in 2004. We have rarely gotten to the point where it was possible to win it in the BEL, but the most recent occurrence would happen in 2021 with Howl Of The Hound for Mb Stables. In that year, Howl Of The Hound had to settle for second as War Chant, a horse that would not earn another penny after the race, took home the win. We can also look all the way back to 2004 when Fuji Stable’s Fuji Ninja won the first two legs of the TC. He would end up finishing sixth in the BEL, and never finished in the top three again.

I wasn’t around in 2004, but looking at Fuji Ninja’s history, he was certainly one of the favorites going into the race and likely had a lot of excitement surrounding him that year, even though the game was still very new. Seventeen years later, in 2021, I was able to cover some of Howl Of The Hound’s journey, and as an undefeated horse going into the BEL, it certainly seemed like we had our best shot that year. War Chant kept it from happening, and many of us saw it was a missed opportunity for a horse to win the triple crown. Of course, we can’t talk about close calls for the TC without mentioning Five Fives, who won the KYD and BEL while losing the PRK by a nose. With these near misses in mind, we a new opportunity to see a TC winner this year. Gogh Wild is a little different, at least from my perspective, than Howl Of The Hound was or how I imagine Fuji Ninja was. Until the FL Derby, he was not seen as one of the leading contenders for the KYD, and to that point, he did not have a single point on the KYD qualifying leaderboard. The 100 points he got for the win, which was in a dead heat, allowed him to make the race, and the rest is history. Perhaps it is better this way, to have a horse that is hitting his best form at absolutely the right time. On Saturday, we’ll have our answer.

Fifteen horses are in his way, with all of these trainers hoping that if Gogh Wild does not become a TC winner, that it was their horse that got the win. Eleven of the 16 horses entered ran in the KYD, with another one having run in the KYO. Point 4 of the TC Bonus rules states that 75% of the field must include top qualified horses. 11 of 16 is a tad under that (if we’re not going to count the filly), but one of the ones that did not run (Destined Charge) was a top qualifier with 100 points, but could not run because of the three horse per stable limit that was on his trainer. One of the other ones is the BC Juvenile winner (Dime Symphony), so the field seems to be good to go in terms of that, but the meters must be good to go on race day as well. Only the game will know if all the criteria are met, and we can only hope that it will be. Perhaps, in the final year of the BEL running at SAR, we’ll finally get that TC winner. Let’s meet our field!

1- Strike (7-2-0-2, $508.00)

Trainer- D J C Racing Stables
Jockey-S Elliott
Sire/Dam- Muth/Cherokee Delight
Breeder- D J C Racing Stables (NY)

Form- Took part in the KYD last month, but was an also-ran in the race, breaking in the middle of the field and only finding himself be passed in the stretch for an eventual 13th place finish. To get there, he raced three times at the FG, and did run third in the Risen Star. You have to go back to his two year old season to find his last victory, but it was a good one, coming in the $500.00 Great White Way, for NY-breds, in December. Has not won a race that was longer than seven furlongs.

Outlook- D J C Racing Stables will have his hands full trying to find a winning formula for this one, because Strike really did not look good in the KYD. Interestingly, he also had to start on the rail in that one, so tactically the start of the race may be more of the same for him. May be one of the longer shots on the board on Saturday even though his works suggest he’s got as good of a shot as any of them here.

2- Painted Ice (9-3-1-0, $524.60)

Trainer- Alydar Stables
Jockey- D E Centeno
Sire/Dam- Winter Book/Sadies Art
Breeder- Alydar Stables (PA)

Form- This is a horse that has been very inconsistent in his young career. He was at his best during the winter months, running second in the KY Jockey Club at CD in late November and then kicking off his three year old season with a win at FG in the Lecomte. Those results put him in the position to where a win in the Grade 3 Lexington would get him into the KYD. Last month, after sitting three lengths off the lead in the early portion of the KYD, he was passed in the stretch and settled for eighth.

Outlook- While he is inconsistent, it appears as though post position has a lot to do with the races that he has struggled in. Other than the KYD, his other four races were he did not look good saw him start in a double digit post. Also, his better races have seen him start closer to the rail, so that’s an intriguing thing to keep in mind. If this means that the pieces are in place for him, he’s a potential longshot worth strong consideration.

3- Cumberland Blue (7-3-1-1, $696.16)

Trainer- Jerry Garcia Racing
Jockey- J L Ortiz
Sire/Dam- Excoriator/Greek Princess (1)
Breeder- Jerry Garcia Racing (KY)

Form- After a strong prep season performance that included wins in both the Gotham and the Wood Memorial, Cumberland Blue was well-regarded for the KYD. He wasn’t the favorite, but at odds of 7/1, he was seen as a solid contender. However, the race did not go well for him, as he started at the back and was at one point, thirteen lengths from the lead. He’d made a strong late charge, as his is custom, but even that was only good enough to get to ninth. Two weeks later, he made more progress with his late bid in the PRK, and finished fifth.

Outlook- Cumberland Blue is one of three horses in the field that will be running in all three of the TC races. Obviously, Gogh Wild is one of them, and the other is the PRK runner up, Bold Intruder. The key for Cumberland Blue will be how he deals with traffic, because I would not expect this closer to use a different tactic here. In his last four races, he has started from a double digit post, so perhaps this spot will be better to start from. In the PRK, he was not as far back early as he was in the KYD, and that will be important for him. I wouldn’t want him more than six lengths from the leader after six furlongs.

4- Gogh Wild (9-5-1-0, $4,698.12)

Trainer- TwinTowersRacing
Jockey- T Gaffalione
Sire/Dam- Van Gogh/American Wild
Breeder- TwinTowersRacing (CA)

Form- The focus of everyone’s attention on Saturday, as he will have the potential to accomplish the greatest possible achievement by winning the TC. He had not always been a dominant horse, winning once over his first five starts and struggling in his first two stake appearances. Then, came the addition of bute in February, and Gogh Wild won an optional claimer down at GP. He’d be gelded a month later, and just a few days after the snip, he would race in the FL Derby. For Gogh Wild, it was a must that he finish in the top two in order to even have a shot at the KYD, and there would be no other chance for him if he did not step up. In the FL Derby, Gogh Wild would take care of business, winning the race in a dead heat with Destined Charge. If it were not for that, then he’s not in the KYD and we’re no where close to talking about the possibility of a TC. His win in the KYD was of the wire to wire variety, opening up by three at one point before winning by a length. In the PRK, he would stalk the leaders before prevailing in a photo with Bold Intruder. Now, we all wait and see if we will all “Gogh Wild” for him.

Outlook- Naturally, the plan will be more of the same for Gogh Wild. There’s no reason for TwinTowersRacing to do anything significantly different with him when there is a substantial amount of money on the line. While there are many great trainers in the game, TwinTowersRacing would be a great person to be the first TC winner as someone who has played the game since 2003 and the seen the likes of both Howl Of The Hound and Fuji Ninja have the opportunity to win the TC. Also, his annual sponsoring of the World Trade Center classic is a touching gesture for everyone, but especially for a fellow New Yorker.

5- Quantum Pursuit (6-2-2-0, $432.00)

Trainer- Mb Stables
Jockey- I Ortiz Jr
Sire/Dam- Walk Em Down/Quantum Charger
Breeder- Mb Stables (CA)

Form- Found himself at the back of the field with Cumberland Blue in the KYD early on, but was not able to make as much progress in the stretch, and only got up to 14th at the end, losing by six lengths. While he did go off as a 26/1 longshot, he did have a strong prep race season which suggested that he might have a better chance than those odds say. He would win the San Felipe Stakes in March, and that’s sandwiched between second place efforts in the Lewis Stakes and the coveted BG Stakes.

Outlook- While he was off the pace early in the KYD, Quantum Pursuit has not been exclusively a closer for his career. He’s gone back and forth between that style and being a frontrunner, and it was with the latter tactic that he finished second in both the BC Stakes and the Lewis Stakes. Since he does utilize each of these, I would not be surprised, and actually anticipate him to be a lot closer to the front here. This will be the first time in three starts that he does not start from the double digits.

6- Weaponize (8-2-1-2, $522.32)

Trainer- D J C Racing Stables
Jockey- V Espinoza
Sire/Dam- Calling All Angels/True Disinformation
Breeder- D J C Racing Stables (CA)

Form- This is the first horse that we will get to that was not a part of the KYD last month, but he did run in the PRK. In that race, he ran in the middle of the field for the first half of the race, and made nice progress in the stretch to get up for third and was within a length of Gogh Wild at the end. Early in the year, Weaponize picked up the win in the Holy Bull down at GP, doing so by a length, but the two races in between where mediocre, at best.

Outlook- A tough horse to get a handle on, because his last two races have very different outcomes. In both the PRK, as well as the SA Derby in April, Weaponize found himself in the second half of the field, and while he would look good against top competition in the PRK to get up for third, he simply never fired in SA Derby, and lost by four. That race may be more of an aberration, and with a little more distance in the BEL, a similar effort to the PRK could give Gogh Wild a little something to be concerned about. If I put money on him, I would want to see him be no more than four lengths back at six furlongs.

7- Bank Robber (7-4-1-1, $936.28)

Trainer- Our Athletes
Jockey- J Lezcano
Sire/Dam- Great State/Kitty Bank
Breeder- Our Athletes (NY)

Form- Officially scored as being in a ninth place dead heat with Cumberland Blue last month in the KYD. Starting near the outside, Bank Robber found himself eight lengths from the lead midway through the race, and only got half of that deficit back. Prior to that race, he had hit the board in all six starts, thriving at AQU against NY-breds before running second in the San Felipe. After that, came his biggest career win, the BG Stakes at KEE but simply never got going in the KYD.

Outlook- Perhaps we can look past the KYD on this one, since there are a number of factors that can happen in a 20-horse field, especially when you are a horse that wants to work your way through traffic over the second of the race. In his BG Stakes win, he was four lengths back midway through, and made up just enough to win by half a length. Four is also the number of the eight lengths he made up in the KYD, so that certainly seems like the target for him in the BEL. If he can be within that, than he has his best shot. Any more than that, then it is probably asking too much from him.

8- Magic Fighter (10-3-1-0, $474.80)

Trainer- Maxmillion Farm
Jockey- R M Hernandez
Sire/Dam- Starship Rover/Not A Fighter
Breeder- Grimley (FL)

Form- Magic Fighter was able to earn a fourth place check in the KYD, running in the first third of the field early on, and keeping himself within four lengths of the lead. Prior to the KYD, he had run second in the SA Derby, which how he punched his ticket for the race. Since being purchased by Maxmillion Farm for $400.00 in November, Magic Fighter has been a competitive runner every time out, and doesn’t have a race that you’d consider a real clunker. He’s also looking for his signature win in his new barn,

Outlook- A strong two year old season with Grimley saw him use a late running tactic in most races, and we have seen a shift with Maxmillion Farm to be better in the first half of the race, either by going out on the lead early, or stalking the pace. He was good in the KYD, but still needed to make up two more lengths at the end, so it would not surprise me to see Magic Fighter be even closer to the early lead here, if not being the pacesetter himself.

9- Bold Intruder (12-4-3-0, $1,490.10)

Trainer- The Sidley Stud
Jockey- M Franco
Sire/Dam- Bold Tower (1)/Screwed
Breeder- Pan Farms (NY)

Form- Bold Intruder is one of the biggest threats to Gogh Wild grabbing the TC. After all, they just raced against one another three weeks ago in the PRK, and were in a photo together for the win. For Bold Intruder, he came up just a little short, but it is nothing that can’t be reversed in this race. In the KYD, Bold Intruder was a less of a factor, and could only finish seventh. To get to the KYD, he took care of business at FG, winning both the Risen Star and the LA Derby. Earlier, he was very successful in NY-bred races.

Outlook- For Bold Intruder, the difference between the KYD and the PRK was the amount of ground he conceded at the start of the race. In the KYD, he was five lengths back at six furlongs, and then six back at a mile. He’d only cut that to four at the end. Two weeks later, he was just three back at six furlongs, and within half a length after a mile. That portion of the race will determine if he has anything for Gogh Wild at the wire here if The Sidley Stud uses the same tactic. His works are simply excellent!

10- Dime Symphony (7-4-0-0, $1,455.00)

Trainer- Asgar
Jockey- B Curtis
Sire/Dam- Dime Defense/Symphonica
Breeder- Asgar (CA)

Form- This gelding has only raced two times this year, which is certainly a red flag when talking about the BC Juvenile winner. His two year old campaign was fantastic, with four wins in five starts that included the Grade 1 DMR Futurity and the BC Juvenile. Two months later, he ran in the RP Springboard Mile, but it would not catapult him to more success. Instead, it did the opposite but perhaps it was just a fluke much the way KY Juvenile seemed like it was. Dime Symphony did not start at all as a three year old before running in the PRK three weeks ago. Unfortunately, the result only seemed to confirm that Dime Symphony lost something after running in the BC.

Outlook- Dime Symphony is a BC champion, so he has been able to prove he can be at his best when it matters the most. However, we have all had those horses in our barns, on bigger scales and smaller scales, where they come out of a race notably slower and never seem to rebound. His six furlong works show that trend, so unless Asgar can get something figured out, then Dime Symphony will be a non-factor.

11- Southwind (10-2-3-2, $413.00)

Trainer- Acber Farms
Jockey- S X Bridgmohan
Sire/Dam- Whoa Whoa Whoa/Mans Final Frontier
Breeder- Acber Farms (PA)

Form- As a two year old, and moving into this season, Southwind was consistently able to hit the board just about every time he was sent to the track. After running third in the Grade 2 San Vicente, Southwind picked up his biggest win to date, coming in the $250.00 Davis Stakes at TAM and the valuable KYD points that come with it. After running third in the TAM Derby and fourth in the BG Stakes, Southwind was on his way to the KYD. Bettors did not give him much of a chance, and he went off as a 78/1 longshot. Instead of proving them wrong, Southwind broke out of the gate poorly, fell behind by as much as ten lengths, and was never able to recover.

Outlook- Southwind has not typically been a closer, so when he fell behind in the KYD he was out of his element. Most of his prior races seemed to suggest he was a on a stalking-type tactic and he was able to stay with the lead group and finish well. When starting at the back, he was not able to work his way through traffic and make a substantial push. Therefore, the start of the race is going to be crucial for him. If he’s at the back and way out of it early, I couldn’t see his BEL ending another different than his KYD did.

12- Open Invitation (14-1-5-3, $854.24)

Trainer- Mb Stables
Jockey- R Santana Jr
Sire/Dam- Inviting/Con Minou
Breeder- Mb Stables (ON)

Form- An experienced runner already that will be making his 15th career start, but he has very little experience with the winner’s circle at the end of a race. He’s the only horse in here with just a lone victory, and that’s not appealing when you’re the horse with the most starts in the race. Though he didn’t win for a while, he was consistently able to hit the board, and accumulated earnings in several stakes before ultimately breaking his maiden in the Southwest at the end of January. Did not run in the KYD, but would take part in the PRK where he was at the back early and moved up to eighth.

Outlook- I wouldn’t be scared off by his only having the one career win, given he was always able to close to the winner at the end while consistently picking up checks. However, his last two races are concerning, as not only was he a non-factor in the PRK, but he was in the AR Derby as well. Different tactics seem to have been used for him in the past and there isn’t the one style that appears to be any better or worse with him. Eventually, that versatility will be a good thing, but in the BEL, he must be at Southwest form to have a chance.

13- Destined Charge (4-2-0-0, $444.80)

Trainer- Mb Stables
Jockey- P Lopez
Sire/Dam- Walk Em Down/Eternal Destiny
Breeder- Mb Stables (CA)

Form- In the FL Derby, Destined Charge finished in a dead heat with Gogh Wild, with no one knowing that at the time, a star was taking the next step towards greatness. But what about Destined Charge’s effort? Like Gogh Wild, he was in the FL Derby as a last chance attempt to get into the KYD, as he had just broken his maiden at SA a month prior. Due to the restrictions on Mb Stables to have to choose three runners among several more qualifiers, Destined Charge did not have an opportunity to run there, and has been idle ever since. He’s fresh and works very well at a mile. Also, we can’t complete this preview without mentioning Mb’s dominance in the BEL. While he wishes 2021 did not get away, the trainer won this race in 2015, then 2017-2019, as well as 2024 and 2025.

Outlook- Destined Charge finishing in a dead heat with Gogh Wild will certainly get a lot of attention, and it can be to his benefit that he has not raced since the FL Derby. While he’s been waiting to get back into a race, he’s worked nicely, especially at a mile at AQU two weeks ago. Over his last two races, he has gone out to the lead, so that includes battling it out in front with Gogh Wild right from the gate last time out. It would be absolute cinema to see them battle it out from the start given everything that is on the line, and it may be destiny for Destined Charge to be a massive spoiler.

14- Wants It All (Filly) (10-4-1-2, $1,853.28)

Trainer- Mo Mentum Farm
Jockey- M E Smith
Sire/Dam- Falling Angel/Explore Command
Breeder- Night Mare Racing (NY)

Form- It’s surprising to see a filly in the BEL, but Mo Mentum Farm is giving Wants It All the chance to run against boys, and it is the first time in her career that she will be doing this. She made her debut in Mo Mentum silks on Halloween in the BC Juvenile Fillies, and came out on top, making her an early favorite for the KYO. After being okay but not necessarily great in her first two preps for that race, she stepped up and won the Grade 1 Ashland at KEE to secure her spot in the race. However, in the KYO, she did not run well and only beat one of her rivals. She will have a five pound weight allowance in this race, and she’ll need all of it.

Outlook- It’s not unprecedented for fillies to run in the BEL, or in any TC race, and to have success in it. Mrs Bombastic is the name that will immediately come to mind, but it was only last year where a filly by War Chant, Credit Crime, finished third in this race and only lost by a neck. However, there’s a big difference between Mrs Bombastic, Credit Crime, and Wants It All. This filly is not entering the race hot, and is not entering off a strong run in the KYO. I never rule anyone out entirely, but she’ll have to run like she did in the Ashland while having a lot of other variables go her way.

15- Meekshallinherit (12-4-4-0, $1,391.60)

Trainer- Big Jd Racing
Jockey- A Fresu
Sire/Dam- Native Music/Meekness
Breeder- Big Jd Racing (NY)

Form- Last month, Meekshallinherit was a length away from winning the KYD, settling for second to Gogh Wild. He was particularly strong late last year and in the early portion of this year, winning two ungraded stakes in his juvenile campaign before taking the TAM Derby in March. While he did not run well in the BG Stakes, it was enough to get him into the KYD. Sat out the PRK, and the trainer hopes that he will be ready to roll off a big one here and not revert back to that BG Stakes form.

Outlook- His effort in the BG Stakes was poor, but it was probably because he found himself too far back at the start of the race. He had been more of a stalker throughout his career, so when he was five lengths back after six furlongs, he was out of his element. In the KYD, he was closer to the leader, being three lengths back but as he was second, he did not have to contend with the same amount of traffic. Made up some ground but still needed to be a length and a half closer. He’ll need to break well from the outside, because if he’s far back again early, I’m not convinced that he will be able to come back all the way.

16- Hurts (11-7-1-2, $3,088.80)

Trainer- Royalty Stables
Jockey- J R Velazquez
Sire/Dam- Hide And Seek/Agapova
Breeder- Royalty Stables (NY)

Form- Hurts was the horse to beat in the KYD, and he may still be the horse to beat here in the BEL. After winning five of seven in his two year old season, with two of the victories being Grade 1’s, Hurts continued to be a top contender during prep race season. After a decent fourth place effort in the Southwest, he would go on to win both the Fountain Of Youth and the AR Derby by a length a piece. Off of that, he would enter the KYD as the 7/2 post-time favorite, and all things considered there was nothing wrong with that race either, as he placed third. Royalty Stables kept him out of the PRK, and he has been firing non-stop bullets in workouts ever since.

Outlook- Starting from the outside would seem to be a concern for Hurts, but with his running style, he may be able to deal with it without much issue. He’s a late runner, but cannot get as far back as he was in the KYD last month, as he was eleven lengths back after six furlongs, and nine after a mile. It was impressive how much ground he actually did make up, but the trainer would prefer not to have such a difficult task again. In both the AR Derby and the Fountain Of Youth, he was only five lengths back while not having as many horses to have to get by. There are several others in here, outside of Gogh Wild, who are also looking to do their best running late, so Hurts cannot dig a deep hole to them, either. I think he could overcome a deficit of about seven to eight lengths after six furlongs on whoever the leader is at that time, but it’s the others that will be near the back early that concern me a little, too. I’d like to see him run this closer, as he did in the AR Derby.

Also Eligibles- Knowing Spirit (Ajm Stables), Off To Shepton (Asgar), Monarchy (Mo Mentum Farm).

The elephant in the room: There’s a 58% chance of rain at SAR for Saturday. It’s a shame, since it has been so beautiful in this area all week.

Prediction: 4-16-9-7
Appealing Probable Longshot: 2- Painted Ice

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2026, THE TRIPLE CROWN