Belmont Park

Brilliant last year as a sophomore, Bella Sofia returned a popular winner at Belmont Saturday, but only after hard-knocking MGSW Frank's Rockette tested her for the length of the stretch. Away cleanly from her outside draw, Bella Sofia pressed in a well-held second through splits of :22.67 and :45.68 with Frank's Rockette drafting from the pocket. Bella Sofia took over at the top of the lane, but Frank's Rockette split horses and immediately came to tackle the favorite. The pair traded jabs from there, with Bella Sofia finding slightly more...

Jockey Dylan Davis reached 1,000 career victories with a late-rallying finish aboard the Christophe Clement-trained Heels Together (Hard Spun) in Friday's fifth race at Belmont Park. "It feels great. Obviously, I couldn't have done this without the horses, my agent Mike Migliore, and my supporters--countless trainers and owners to get me here," Davis said. "It feels really special. I love doing this and I love the game. I wasn't really keeping track of the number I was at," Davis added, with a laugh. The son of accomplished jockey and current...

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning turf male Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took to the Belmont turf course Thursday morning for some light work ahead of his appearance in Saturday's GI Man o' War S. With rider Shane Fetherstonhaugh aboard, the 4-year-old schooled a bit in the Belmont paddock before heading out to the track around 9 a.m., where he was allowed to stretch out through the final stages. "He went out to the turf so he could have a light canter and then he just had a little blowout down the straight...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency FULL TO VINO ROSSO DEBUTS IN NY 6th-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 3:13 p.m. John Gunther homebred NEWS CARVER (Curlin), a full-brother to champion Vino Rosso, makes his career bow Saturday at Belmont for trainer Jorge Abreu. Ending his career on a high note with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and an Eclipse award, Vino Rosso now stands stud at Spendthrift Farm. News Carver is also a half to GSP So Alive (Super Saver). Their dam Mythical Bride (Street Cry {Ire})...

The New York Racing Association is creating a new Pick 3 wager to be made available exclusively to retail customers on Sundays during the upcoming spring/summer meet at Belmont Park, NYRA announced Thursday. Featuring a $3 bet minimum and 24% takeout, the NYRA Triple Play will cover the final three races of Sunday cards throughout the 44-day spring summer meet. Each NYRA Triple Play will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. Wagering on the NYRA Triple Play will be available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across...

DJ Pauly D will headline the entertainment lineup presented by Mohegan Sun for the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. DJ Pauly D, who performs over 150 shows a year including a 40-date residency at Marquee Las Vegas and a long-running residency at Harrah's Atlantic City, will DJ in Club 154 presented by Mohegan Sun from 4:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m. on Belmont Stakes Day June 11. Club 154 presented by Mohegan Sun is a new space set to debut at this year's GI Belmont S. Located at the west end of the...

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America, created in 1986, held a groundbreaking ceremony Mar. 28 for a multi-purpose building and chapel on the grounds of Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The 3,500-square foot facility (which Chaplaincy officials hope will open this fall) will be located just inside the Gate 6 entrance to Belmont Park and will include a chapel which will also function as a multi-purpose room, office space for the chaplaincy staff, and a classroom to be used as a learning center. Among those who participated in...

Peter Proscia's Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Barese (Laoban), unbeaten in three starts against fellow New York-breds, tuned up for a tilt at the Apr. 9 GII Wood Memorial with a six-furlong work in 1:16.42 at Belmont Park Saturday. "He has really been a nice horse. We're pointing for the Wood and are excited for the opportunity," Staudacher said. A debut winner at Belmont last May for trainer Mike Maker, Barese returned with a 2 3/4-length victory in the Jan. 9 Rego Park S. and added the one-mile Gander...

Feature courtesy of the New York Racing Association From the desk of his cramped office at the New York division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA) on Belmont Park's backstretch, Chaplain Humberto Chavez can gaze out the window at what he calls, "something we've been planning for and dreaming of for years." Directly north of the NYRTCA's current office, a team of New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) carpenters, electricians and plumbers are at work constructing the Chaplaincy's new 3,500-square-foot building, which will double the Chaplaincy's current space...

Tickets for the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will go on sale Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com. Capacity for the June 11 Belmont Stakes card will be 50,000 fans. Fewer general admission tickets will be available for the festival following the construction of the UBS Arena, which reduced the size of the Belmont Park backyard. The capacity of Belmont Park is expected to expand in future years following the completion of a significant capital improvement project that will provide spectator access to the infield. In January, NYRA received...

Unbeaten Flightline (Tapit) tuned up for his expected 4-year-old debut in the Mar. 5 GII San Carlos S. with a four-furlong work in :47.80 (6/86) at Santa Anita Sunday. "I had him in :48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went," said trainer John Sadler. "He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the [June 11 GI] Met Mile." Flightline, unchallenged in three lifetime starts, was tabbed...

Courvoisier (Tapit), last-out winner of the Jan. 1 Jerome S., tuned up for Saturday's GIII Withers S. with a five-furlong work in 1:02.41 (2/15) over the Belmont training track Friday. "He's doing well," trainer Kelly Breen said. "He breezed Friday by himself. It was a maintenance workout and he's good to go." Owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and James Spry, Courvoisier is a son of 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). Jerome fourth-place finisher Unbridled Bomber (Upstart) was declared ready for the Withers following a...