Following the untimely retirement of the ultra-talented GISW Volatile (Violence) earlier this week, an evenly matched field of six will line up for Saturday's GII Vosburgh S. at Belmont Park, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
The 2-1 morning-line favorite Engage (Into Mischief), winner of last fall's GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. at Keeneland, makes his first start since finishing a non-threatening fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. He's been training steadily at Steve Asmussen's Churchill base for this.
Belmont horse-for-course Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior), just a nose short in last year's heart-stopping renewal of this race, contested then as a Grade I, was last of 11 in a Saratoga downpour in the GI Forego S. last time Aug. 29. He's posted three career graded stakes victories at Belmont, led by a tally in the 2017 GI Champagne S. He also has a win in the GII True North S. June 27 over this course on his resume as well.
Funny Guy (Big Brown) followed a pair of sharp stakes victories versus fellow New York-breds with a close fourth as the 3-1 favorite after a troubled trip in the Forego.
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