The 19th Running of The BEL-G1
Saturday, June 11, 2022
BEL Race #10 $1,500.000 11/2 Dirt
3YOs 126/121 Lbs
Track Record-2:27.64 (Has The Answers-2014)
Stakes Record-2:29.37 (Crown Heights-2011)
For a mile-and-a-half race, it was over in a matter of mere seconds. With G1 KYD winner Gigabyte and G1 PRK winner All Take left in his wake, Ocean Of Wisdom became the third different horse to take a leg of the TC Series. That Ocean Of Wisdom could get the job done was never in doubt as he had done enough in the prep season to be sent off as the post time favorite for the KYD; however, it was the manner in which he won that came as a surprise. After a 9th place finish in the KYD, trainer Nakamura Stables tried the G1 PRK with his Hogshead (o/o Pocono Junction) gelding where he underwhelmed with a 12th place performance. On Saturday, in the “Test of the Champion”, Ocean Of Wisdom sprang from the gates and wrote his name in the history books.
Breaking from gate four, Ocean Of Wisdom, coaxed along brilliantly by E.J. Wilson, went straight to the front on an easy lead. He was nearly two lengths clear before the first 200-yards of the $1,500.000 race were completed and simply refused to allow his rivals to change the scenery. While Ocean Of Wisdom was completing an opening half-mile in :49.61, Mickey made an early move to the five-path to join the quartet of horses nearest the leader.
Ocean Of Wisdom kept the first flight of pursuers at bay as he completed six furlongs in 1:14.18; however, the second flight of runners moved within a length of the group in front of them. Nearing the end of the backstretch, Up In Smoke separated himself from the group of nearest pursuers and looked to make a bid from the two-path as he drew within almost a length of the leader. Ocean Of Wisdom must have sensed his rival as he extended his lead throughout the turn and hit the quarter pole in 2:03.66 and on a three-length lead. From there, he really poured it on and left 15-rivals in his wake. He would cross the wire in 2:29.59 and almost three lengths in front of Up In Smoke. Pluckzy, the only horse who had any real run late, had to wait a bit before commencing his rally, and, while he was never going to catch Ocean Of Wisdom, his momentum was stymied long enough that he couldn’t catch Up In Smoke for the place. It was almost three lengths further back to All Take, in fourth, as that one beat Gigabyte to the wire for the last paying spot. Completing the order of finish were Sunshine Scooter, Neoconservative, Everymanforhimself, Rudy Is With Me, Ey Mon, Thunder Gultch, Karloffs Monster, Changing Times, Spiced, Uranus, and Mickey.
Ocean Of Wisdom collected the first G1 victory of his career with his BEL triumph and now has a bankroll of $2,128.000 with five wins from ten starts. Nakamura Stables, one of the best in the game, earned his first G1 BEL to complete his virtual trophy case with the only piece of TC hardware that was missing. Well done to both horse and trainer on a terrific performance!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
