Belmont Festival Notes: Nysos Doing Well After Met Mile

Baoma Corp, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Nysos improved to 8-for-10 with over $5.2 million in earnings with a four-length score in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, for 3-year-olds and up traveling one-mile from the Wilson Chute, on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course. The Met Mile offered a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in October at Keeneland, which Nysos won by a head in November at Del Mar, but this year he targets the Breeders' Cup Classic. Hall of Fame-trainer Bob Baffert said Nysos exited Saturday's score in good order, and that the 5-year-old Nyquist bay is solidified in his mind among the greatest horses he's trained. "He came out of it well," said Baffert. "He'll be heading back to Kentucky now, Monday night. I haven't had a horse like him since like American Pharoah. He is that caliber of horse. He's really good." In the Met Mile, Nysos exited post 1-of-7 under regular rider Flavien Prat and led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.52 seconds over the fast dirt. He was pressured by Antiquarian, Saudi Crown and Knightsbridge, and Prat let that trio pass him to travel fourth as the half-mile elapsed in 45.61. After saving ground until about the three-eighths marker, Nysos was tipped back out in pursuit of Knightsbridge, blowing past that rival by the three-sixteenths en route to an open-lengths score in a final time of 1:34.85, just off the course record of 1:34.72 set by Key Contender in 1992. The performance earned a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure, and was redemptive after a runner-up finish to reigning Champion Older Dirt Male Forever Young in the Group 1 Saudi Cup in February. "That trip was exactly the way I mapped the race out for him," Baffert said. "Prat rides the horse with a lot of confidence. That horse is very smart. He shut off, let the horses go, and then came back around. That's really a big advantage right there." Of a potential start for Nysos in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, - a "Win and You're In" for the Classic - Baffert said, "Everybody wants to know what is next for him, but I don't know what's next for him [laughs]. I know the Breeders' Cup is the goal, we'll work backwards from there and I'm not sure yet." CSLR Racing Partners' Crude Velocity was a 5 3/4-length runner-up to the track-record equaling Englishman in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun for sophomores on Belmont Stakes Day. "I will never run against that horse again," Baffert said of Englishman, who earned an eye-popping 115 Beyer Speed Figure for his final time of 1:20.40. "Crude Velocity will never see that horse in the gate again, unless they are going two turns. That was, I mean, wow... Crude Velocity was doing so well, I saw that time, that was crazy." Crude Velocity defeated Englishman by 3 3/4 lengths one race prior in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 2 at Churchill Downs. A stretch out in distance appears to be on tap for the now 3-for-4 son of Beau Liam in the Grade 1, $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell at nine furlongs for sophomores, on July 18 at Monmouth Park. "I'm going to run him in the Haskell," Baffert said. "We're going to stretch. I was going to run him in the Matt Winn today [Sunday at Churchill Downs], but I thought maybe, I was hoping that Englishman wouldn't show up there [at Saratoga], but then he showed up. We'll see." Baffert also reported that Imagination exited a fourth in Saturday's Grade 3 True North in good order. The 5-year-old Into Mischief horse is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan. "All my runners came back well," Baffert said. "That horse hates being down inside, but that was a good field. All the races up there, we saw some really fantastic horses running over the weekend. I mean, man, everyone was good. Every race was good up there and tough, but it's supposed to be, those graded races." Deterministic points to Fourstardave title defense Trainer Miguel Clement reported on Sunday morning that St Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable's Deterministic has exited his second consecutive victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan at Saratoga Race Course in top order. In lieu of a gate-to-wire win in last year's race, which was held at 1 1/8 miles, this year, the 5-year-old Liam's Map entire rated comfortably behind the pace set by dual Grade 1 winning New York-bred Rhetorical before unleashing well-timed stalk-and-pounce tactics under Kendrick Carmouche en route to a half-length victory over Graham Motion-trained Grade 1 winners Test Score and One Stripe. The race was contested over 1 3/16 miles this year and Deterministic captured the 124th Manhattan edition in a course-record 1:50.50 final time. "He's come out of the race in good order," Clement said. "I think it's safe to say that the next logical target and goal is the Fourstardave." The Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave is slated for August 8 and is a 'Win and You're In' for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in the autumn. Last year, Deterministic capped an abbreviated campaign with a 1 1/4-length win in the one-mile, inner-turf affair. Overall, Deterministic has three Grade 1 wins among his nine career victories from 15 runs and a career bankroll of $2,634,765 - not to mention the priceless accomplishment of being the bona fide star of the one-year-old head-training career of his conditioner. Casse thrilled with trio of wins D.J. Stable's Nitrogen earned a career-best 113 Beyer Speed Figure for her powerful frontrunning romp in Friday's Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford, contested at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares, on Day Three of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the decisive score put to bed any concerns that the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro bay - a Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in Canada in 2024 and the Eclipse Award-winning 3-Year-Old Filly last year - had not come back to her explosive best after winning just one of her first three outings this year at Oaklawn Park. "If that didn't do it, I don't know what else she's supposed to do. She amazes me," Casse said. With regular rider Jose Ortiz up from post 5, Nitrogen showed the way through splits of 23.74 seconds, 47.26 and 1:10.48 over the fast main track to establish a 6 1/2-length lead at the stretch call and opening up, while drifting out late, to win by 12 3/4-lengths in a final time of 1:46.93, just shy of the 1:46.64 course record set by Lawyer Ron in the 2007 Grade 1 Whitney. The Phipps victory provided a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in October at Keeneland. Casse said Nitrogen benefitted from newfound tactics in the Phipps. "We employed a little bit of a different strategy, and it worked out well," Casse said. "She's been sitting. She doesn't have an explosive turn of foot, so I talked to Jose in the paddock and said, 'why don't we try and get - if not on the lead, pretty close. He warmed her up really good and she came away from there running. He said instead of trying to get her to settle, he went ahead and went with her. I think we learned something very valuable yesterday." Nitrogen is a perfect 3-for-3 on the Spa main track with wins in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Wonder Again last June - her first non-turf score - and the Grade 1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales in August. Those scores were wrapped around a nose defeat to course-record setting Fionn in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational over firm turf here in July. Casse noted after the race regarding the four-time turf winner, "I just want to officially say, I'm tired of hearing everybody say she doesn't like the dirt." There are a number of nine-furlong dirt options for Casse to entertain for Nitrogen here this summer, including the Grade 2, $250,000 Shuvee on July 24 or the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 29, offering a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in October at Keeneland. Given the strong speed figure, some may wonder if Casse would consider trying Nitrogen versus males in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, offering a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic. Casse has enjoyed past success in this regard with Hall of Famer Tepin and multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy besting males in Grade 1 races on turf, while Wonder Gadot, Canada's 2018 Horse of the Year, bested the boys in that year's Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales north of the border ahead of an off-the-board effort here in the Grade 1 Travers. "I'll talk to the Greens about it, but I don't see us running against colts right now," Casse said, adding that he hasn't landed on a next spot just yet for Nitrogen, who has banked in excess of $2.7 million via a 16-8-5-3 ledger. Nitrogen, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Love to Shop, is out of the stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, who sold for $3.2 million at the 2026 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale and is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Talk Veuve to Me. A stellar Friday for Casse also included a 3 3/4-length score by West Point Thoroughbreds' Counting Stars in the Grade 1 DraftKings Acorn, turning the tables on Always a Runner and Meaning, who had finished in front of her when she was held up on the rail under Francisco Arrieta in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Casse, a 17-time winner of the Sovereign Award as Canada's Outstanding Trainer, was pleased with the head's-up ride from Irad Ortiz, Jr., who stalked a pace duel between longshot Maximum Offer and Meaning. She was briefly held in by Always a Runner through the final turn, but once the Oaks winner advanced, Ortiz, Jr. deftly tipped out Counting Stars, who swooped to the front in an instant. She stopped the clock in 1:48.85 and earned a career-best 95 Beyer as well as becoming the first Grade 1-winner for her sire Honor A.P. "Irad watched the Oaks and her performance and knew that he needed to get her out a little earlier - Francisco never had that opportunity in the Oaks - but Irad knew she needed to get out and he did a great job," said Casse, who won the 2025 Acorn with La Cara. Casse said Counting Stars will likely point to the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25 as a steppingstone to the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales on August 22 here, a race he won last year with Nitrogen. "Probably - I like running," Casse said, with a laugh. Bred in Kentucky by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, Counting Stars, out of the Paynter mare Paynterbynumbers, was a $150,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Casse, who also sent out Mi Bago to win Wednesday's $200,000 Kingston on the New York Showcase card, continued his impressive run into Saturday's Belmont Stakes program with Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Classic Q wiring the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing, a one-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares. With Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, the 4-year-old Classic Empire grey established the lead through splits of 23.62 seconds, 47.17 and 1:10.09 over the firm inner turf en route to a 1 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:32.84. "I think she's getting better and better. She ran a 99 Beyer yesterday which was her best yet," Casse said on Sunday morning. Casse, who also sent out Live Oak Plantation's And One More Time to a fifth-place finish in the Just a Game, said Classic Q came out of the race in good order and that he hasn't landed on a next spot yet. A logical local option would be Grade 1, $500,000 Dunkin' Diana at nine furlongs for older fillies and mares on July 18 here. "We'll sit down with the team to discuss," said Casse, who also sent out Gary Barber's My Boy Prince to a fifth-place finish in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur. Casse said he's thrilled with the performance of all his stakes runners this week at Saratoga. "I couldn't even have dreamed of a weekend like that. If you'd told me we were coming away from the weekend with one Grade 1, I would have said great. To get three at Saratoga, that was special," Casse said. Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint the goal for Reef Runner After having his breakfast, walking the shedrow and even posing for some victory pictures outside the barn Sunday morning, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's 5-year-old millionaire homebred Reef Runner - thrilling winner of Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur at Saratoga Race Course - was on a van and headed back to his home base of Gulfstream Park, with trainer David Fawkes at the wheel. "He's great," Fawkes said, before loading up and heading to South Florida. "He ate up everything, cooled out good, scoped clean. Everything's perfect." In earning his first Grade 1 credentials after previously finding Grade 2 and Group 2 success in the U.S. and abroad, Reef Runner gave Fawkes his seventh career Grade 1 triumph. Four of those have come at Saratoga, including Take D' Tour in the 2006 and 2007 Ogden Phipps Handicap and Sheer Drama in the 2015 Personal Ensign. Reef Runner overcame an early bump to reel in defending champion and 2025 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Ag Bullet 40 yards from the wire and edge clear by a half-length for his ninth lifetime win and sixth in a stakes. It was the first start for the gelded bay son of The Big Beast since running fourth over a turf course rated good in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The Jaipur marked the North American season debut for Reef Runner, who opened 2026 by winning the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint on February 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia, and pushed his career bankroll over the $2 million mark. After Dubai, he had a short sabbatical at Nick Esler's Ocala, Florida farm. "Right after the race I just said, 'Wow.' Here's a horse that went to Saudi Arabia, went to Dubai, came back here, had three weeks' rest at the farm, and runs a race like that? Off the layoff?" Fawkes said. "Just amazing." As a 'Win and You're In' Challenge race, the Jaipur earned Reef Runner a return trip to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on October 31 at Keeneland. It is contested at five furlongs, a half-furlong shorter than the Jaipur. "That was my goal here, so we got that out of the way," Fawkes said of the automatic berth. "One, two [more] races is plenty. I'll probably get two under his belt. That would be it. There's no point beating him up. He's made a bunch of money already. He's easy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to train him, that's for sure." One of those Breeders' Cup preps could come at Saratoga. Among the options are the $200,000 Harvey Pack for 4-year-olds and up on July 5 and the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy for 3-year-olds and up on August 9, both going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. As a 3-year-old, Reef Runner ran eighth in the Listed 5 1/2-furlong Mahony at Saratoga, now a Grade 3 race. "I don't know. I was going to just look around and see where I can go with the most chance of getting kind of a firmer turf course, whether it's California or it's Kentucky, I don't know," Fawkes said. "I've just got to find a race. Weather permitting, I'll come back here." Book'em Danno exits G3 True North in good shape, could return for G1 Forego title defense Reigning Champion Sprinter Book'em Danno, who on Saturday earned his fifth graded stakes victory at Saratoga Race Course with a hard-fought, three-quarter-length repeat triumph in the Grade 3 True North, returned to Monmouth Park Sunday morning in good shape, trainer Derek Ryan said via telephone. "Everything was good, he came out of it good, not a bother," said Ryan, who trains the 5-year-old New Jersey-bred for Atlantic Six Racing. In Saturday's True North, Book'em Danno chased the dueling leaders, 2025 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and 2026 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen runner-up Bentornato and long shot Listenupshance before making an inexorable rally under Paco Lopez to prevail in the final sixteenth of a mile. "That probably was the toughest Grade 3 I've ever run in in my life," said Ryan. "I knew [Book'em Danno] was going to be tough. Bentornato is a nice horse, but I said, 'If we are a few lengths off turning for home, we'll get him.' We got him. [Bentornato] is a great horse - I'm not knocking him, but we beat him twice. All these naysayers saying we should not have won the Eclipse Award, maybe that will keep them quiet for a while." Last year, Book'em Danno won the Grade 3 True North before shipping back to Saratoga to win the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt in July and the Grade 1 Forego in August. At three, Book'em Danno made two starts at Saratoga, winning the Grade 1 Woody Stephens and finishing third in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Ryan said Book'em Danno will bypass the Vanderbilt this year but could return for a title defense in the Forego on August 29. What's next for Renegade, Powershift? Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher reported that Renegade and Powershift, respectively third and ninth in Saturday's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, exited the race in "good order" and shared plans for both colts. Renegade, the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes off his runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, raced behind horses in seventh, angled outside to launch his bid under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. turning for home before he was outkicked by top-two finishers Golden Tempo and Commandment, finishing 5 1/4-lengths behind the winner. Renegade, who is owned by Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low, won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by four lengths in April at Oaklawn Park. "Renegade got the position we thought he would," said Pletcher. "He was always sort of surrounded by horses and covered up behind horses. He was absolutely caked in dirt. It wasn't a bad trip; it was just one of those trips that [he] never got into a cozy position. I thought he kicked turning for home, but he did not have that sustained drive he had in Arkansas and at Churchill. He ended up being a little bit flat and I think a little more time would have benefited him, in retrospect." Pletcher said he is considering multiple options for Renegade, including the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell July 18 at Monmouth Park, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun August 1 at Saratoga Race Course, or training up to Saratoga's Grade 1 DraftKings Travers August 29. "Renegade, we'll just monitor how he is doing," said Pletcher. "We will let him guide us." Repole Stable's Powershift, backed at 11-1 off a 2 3/4-length maiden victory against elders May 2 on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs, set a contested pace before dropping back and being impeded by Growth Equity on the far turn, ultimately finishing last of nine, beaten 23 3/4-lengths with Luis Saez aboard. "We weren't intent on sending [Powershift]," said Pletcher. "We felt like if we were to make the lead the right way, which I think we ultimately did, that was the strategy. The fractions seemed reasonable. He just could not respond when needed." An allowance race likely is the next spot for Powershift, Pletcher said. "Powershift is eligible for an allowance race, and we're also trying to find what his ideal distance is," said Pletcher. "Obviously, it's going to be shorter than a mile and a quarter. Maybe it's around one turn." In the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, Pletcher sent out two runners, fourth-place finisher Antiquarian and Vibe, who was pulled up in the stretch and provided a ride back to the barn in the equine ambulance. Pletcher said both runners were in good shape Sunday morning with Antiquarian under consideration for the 1 1/4-mile Grade 2 Suburban Handicap presented by Subourbon Life July 4 at Saratoga. "He's totally fine," Pletcher said regarding Vibe. "Antiquarian, I thought he ran well. He showed more speed than we anticipated. We look forward to getting him back around two turns." Pletcher added that Illuminare, fifth in the Grade 3 True North on Saturday and Scalable and Time to Dream, respectively fourth in the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses Presented by Boldyn Networks and third in the Grade 2 Wonder Again presented by Shift4 on Friday, exited their races in good shape. Scalable and Time to Dream will be considered for stakes races at Saratoga this summer. Saratoga experiment a success for Aga Khan The powerful racing arm of HH The Aga Khan Studs did not have exactly the outcome the historic emerald green and red silks would have preferred, but a first trip to Saratoga was no less a success, with both of its runners finishing solid seconds in Grade 1 company. On Friday, Cankoura ran a game photo-finish second, perhaps a mere stride or two away from victory, in the Grade 1, $750,000 New York. Overcoming a traffic-riddled inside trip to nearly snatch victory from Portfolio Duration, the gray 4-year-old filly returned to the form that saw her finish a close third in last year's Group 1 Prix de Diane [French Oaks]. One day later, fellow classic-placed Mandanaba, third in the 2025 Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches [French 1000 Guineas] and fourth in the French Oaks, had a similar inside run, but was unable to reel in Classic Q in the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing. Clement Lecoeuvre was aboard the pair, flying in from France to do so. Both fillies have reportedly exited well and are scheduled to return to France and the yard of trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, as of Sunday morning. While Graffard may keep other clients, he is the officially retained trainer for The Aga Khan Studs, which is also able to spread its vast number of homebreds around Europe to other conditioners. The Aga Khan Studs bloodstock dominion is overseen by Princess Zahra Aga Khan. Director and French racing manager Nemone Routh was on site at Saratoga Race Course to oversee both performances. "They both ran very well and obviously we are supremely pleased with both of them," Routh said. "Friday was quite hard, because Cankoura came so close to winning. I think she could possibly have won that race if they had more experience with this type of racing. Clement has ridden fantastic races on both of them. It was always a leap of faith to put a jockey who's never ridden on this track before on them, but he knows those fillies and our style of racing and he did everything to perfection. "With Mandanaba," she continued. "Clement just said that the [inner turf course] was very tight and she was traveling really nicely before she got to [the turns] and then she had to start turning on the inside and it just unbalanced her a bit. I don't think there are any excuses, really, as I think the winner won fairly easily. She just had never experienced anything like that, when you look at her races." Racing fans definitely enjoyed seeing the famed operation back in New York and for the first time in Saratoga--and it may not be the last. "I don't know if we will bring them back, as it is a big trip," Routh concluded. "They are fillies with a lot of value to us, but they both showed that they have great temperaments. They're both very genuine and they like this ground. You know, we came close, so they are fillies that we will definitely consider coming back to America with. It was a fact-finding mission of whether this sort of thing can be done. I think they've come very close and we're very proud of them." The ownership's last appearance in New York was with Edisa, who won the 2019 Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Park for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré, Graffard's old mentor. They were also second in the 2015 Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational with Mikel Delzangles-trained Canndal and ninth with John Oxx-trained Mouramara in the 2000 Grade 2 Long Island Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack. Additionally, the powerful operation was unplaced in a pair of attempts at the most recent Breeders' Cup World Championships held in New York at Belmont Park in 2005 - 10th with Andre Fabre-conditioned Valixir in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile and third with Oxx-trained Azamour in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. In 1985, the first Breeders' Cup held in New York at the Big A, de Royer-Dupré-trained Lashkari finished fourth in his defense attempt of the Breeders' Cup Turf. Most of their stateside performances and three of their four American wins - all Grade 1 -have come in the Breeders' Cup, boasting a healthy 3-for-18 record and highlighted by the aforementioned Lashkari's win in the inaugural 1984 Breeders' Cup Turf, as well as Sir Michael Stoute-trained Kalanisi [2000] and Dermot Weld-conditioned Tarnawa [2020] in the same race. The outlier was Arlington Park's 2012 Grade 1 Secretariat win with de Royer-Dupré-trained Bayrir. The Breeders' Cup, of course, returns to the new Belmont Park in autumn 2027. Commandment in fine fettle after Belmont runner-up effort Wathnan Racing's Commandment came out of his runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in good order, resting up after he finished four lengths clear of favorite Renegade and just 1 1/4-lengths back of winner Golden Tempo. Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Into Mischief colt continued his maturation, as he moved to 3-1-0 in five starts this year, including starting his sophomore campaign with wins in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and the Grade 1 Florida Derby that facilitated a spot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. After a seventh-place effort in the "Run for the Roses," Commandment earned black type in the Belmont Stakes, the last to be contested at the Spa before the new Belmont Park is completed, with a stalking trip in rallying from eighth-of-nine under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez before being on nearly equal terms with Golden Tempo entering the stretch run. "Commandment came out of the race in good shape," said Blake Cox, assistant to his father. "He seemed a little tired and was laying down this morning, but it was a good effort, so he had a reason to be tired." Cox said Commandment's trip - going four-wide into the far turn - didn't make the race easier but praised his charge's determination in battling for second. "He's a very game horse. It was similar to his Florida Derby where he had a wide, sustained run and just kept coming," he said. "We were just second-best. The winner saved some ground on the turn and on the backstretch, and they both ran great." The race also showed Commandment can handle Classic distances and the Saratoga track; factors to consider as the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29, which is held at the same 1 1/4-mile distance the Belmont Stakes was contested at for the top 3-year-olds. FMQ Stable's Saudi Crown, who has made a successful career in being forwardly placed, was not able to come from off the speed yesterday, instead finishing fifth of seven in the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap. Saudi Crown entered the 133rd running of the Met Mile off back-to-back stakes wins, capturing a ratings handicap in March at Oaklawn Park before a strong finish allowed him to kick away for a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Commonwealth in April at Keeneland. "He came out of it well and we'll go forward," Cox said. A pair of entrants for Cox in Friday's Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps competed, but no one was a match for winner Nitrogen, who romped to a 12 3/4-length win that earned a 113 Beyer Speed Figure. The Cox-trained Bless the Broken finished second in a dead heat with Fully Subscribed, while Alpine Princess was last in the six-horse field. Cox's stakes contingent during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival wasn't the only notable results for the barn. Qatar Racing's Senior Officer edged Contrary Thinking by a nose in the second race on Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day card, with the 5-year-old improving his ledger to three wins and two runner-up efforts in five career starts. The winning effort earned a 99 Beyer. The Into Mischief gelding won his debut in September 2024 and finished second against allowance company the next month. After not racing in all of 2025, Senior Officer has returned strong, finishing second in a March Oaklawn Park allowance before posting back-to-back victories, winning over six furlongs in April at Keeneland before taking the seven-furlong sprint yesterday. The results have been long-awaited for the $500,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "It was a very good run - he's a horse we've thought highly of all along and it's good to have him back to where we thought he could be at the start of his career," Cox said. "He's a nice horse that we're excited about to have a good summer." Brown's trio eye more Spa success Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown said he was pleased with how his horses exited a brilliant Friday afternoon of racing on Day Three of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, including three graded stakes victories, highlighted by the New York return of one of his stable stars and fan favorites, Klaravich Stables' Kentucky homebred Ways and Means. While Brown was winless in three stakes on Saturday, Friday's flying success definitely reached enough altitude to keep morale soaring going into Day Five of the festival. Ways and Means, a bay daughter of Klaravich co-owned, Brown-trained dual NYRA Grade 1 winner Practical Joke, repeated in Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Bed o' Roses presented by Boldyn Networks in thrilling fashion under Flavien Prat, reeling in a talented front-running foe, Grand Job. The daughter of another Klaravich co-owned, Brown-trained Saratoga winner, Strong Incentive, Ways and Means improved her Spa record to 5-for-6, while earning a fourth graded stakes win--all in New York. The winning effort Friday returned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. "She came out good," Brown said. "I'm very pleased with her. She bounced out of the race well. It was a fast race. I think off that fast of a number, I'm not sure that she will race again before the Ballerina." The Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina offering a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is slated for August 29. Identical connections' Portfolio Duration, a $190,371 purchase by Mike Ryan from Tattersalls October 2023, continued her ascent with a gutsy, gate-to-wire head victory over French classic-placed Aga Khan invader Cankoura in the Grade 1, $750,000 New York. Ridden to victory by Prat, she is likely to return sooner for Brown and Klaravich principal, Seth Klarman. "She looks well," Brown said. "I think the Diana will be her aim. The cutback to a mile-and-an-eighth will suit her just fine. I like the spacing." The Grade 1, $500,000 Dunkin' Diana will be contested over nine furlongs on Saratoga's inner turf course on July 18. Sophomore filly Fitz Right, a smart winner of the Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again presented by Shift4 under Prat for Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Michael Kisber and Practical Joke's co-owner William Lawrence, stamped herself as one of the leading turf 3-year-old fillies in the process and has come out well. Her victory followed a win in the Listed Memories of Silver at the Big A. "I would say the Belmont Oaks will likely be next for her," Brown continued. "It looks well within her scope." Part of a blockbuster July 4 card, the Grade 1, $600,000 Belmont Oaks will be over a half-furlong farther at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf. Competing in July will also be the aim for Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Always a Runner, who finished a game second to Counting Stars under Jose Ortiz in Friday's Grade 1, $500,000 DraftKings Acorn. "She looks well and I think we have to keep going with her," Brown concluded. "There's plenty of time until the CCA and then to the Alabama, hopefully." The Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks is set for July 25 over 1 1/8 miles on dirt, the same distance as Friday's affair, while the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales will be four weeks later on August 22 at 10 furlongs. Vanderbilt possible for Bentornato Pride was the overwhelming feeling for trainer Jose D'Angelo Sunday morning after Leon King Stable Corp. and TCC Stables' multi-millionaire Bentornato ran second by less than one length as a slight favorite in Saturday's Grade 3, $400,000 True North at Saratoga Race Course. Bentornato was making just his second start of the year and first since also running second in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse. The 5-year-old ridgling put an exclamation point on his 2025 campaign with a popular victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar. "He came out very, very good after the race. We are very happy with the way he is," D'Angelo said. "It was a huge effort for him. He came from Dubai, had just a few workouts and ran a monster race yesterday." In the 6 1/2-furlong True North, Bentornato broke alertly and led through testing fractions of 21.76 and 43.44 pressed by 21-1 longshot Listenupshance with Book'em Danno tracking behind. Bentornato dug in approaching the stretch when Book'em Danno came to challenge but was unable to hold off the 2025 Champion Male Sprinter and wound up beaten three-quarters of a length. It was a nose back to Listenupshance in third. "In the preparations for Dubai he wasn't breaking sharp, so I was focused on getting him to break better like he did at Breeders' Cup and the race before at Churchill [Downs], and we did it," D'Angelo said. "I'm proud of him. He broke very well yesterday, but the fractions and the extra half-furlong weren't in his favor. We know his specialty is going six furlongs. Going farther is harder for him, and he did well. He lost against a great horse like Book 'em Danno and I'm very proud of his effort yesterday." Bentornato will remain in Saratoga for the upcoming summer meet, during which D'Angelo plans to keep a dozen horses. The Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt for 4-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs on July 25 is a possibility. "He's going to stay here. We have the race next month in the Vanderbilt and there's also a race in California. We have to see how he is doing and training every day and make the decision later," D'Angelo said. "Long term we want to go back to the Breeders' Cup. He's taken us to Dubai, Saudi. He always shows up." Baltas proud of Jaipur runner-up Ag Bullet Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran's Ag Bullet landed a half-length second to Reef Runner in her attempt to defend her title in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Richard Baltas, the 6-year-old Twirling Candy mare bobbled at the break from post 6-of-10 and chased into second position behind John the Beer Man, who set splits of 21.19 seconds and 43.13 over the firm footing. She rallied three-wide into the lane under Hall of Famer John Velazquez and was in front with a furlong to run but could not stave off the bid of Reef Runner, who stopped the clock in a final time of 1:00.02. Baltas said he was happy with the effort from Ag Bullet, who was making her seasonal debut off a six-month gap. "I was pleased with her performance - a little upset she didn't defend her title, but she ran great. I knew she was ready when I brought her over there," Baltas said. "She was right up there and he [Velazquez] sucked back off the speed and took her to the outside. The horse that won - Reef Runner - he's been on a tear for a while." Ag Bullet posted a 5-2-1-1 record last year topped by back-to-back graded wins in the Jaipur in June and a repeat score in the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint in August at Kentucky Downs. She went on to land second to Shisospicy in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 1 at Del Mar, and returned just 29 days later to finish third in the one-mile Grade 1 Matriarch there. Last year, Ag Bullet targeted the Ladies Turf Sprint immediately after the Jaipur but Baltas said he could consider the Grade 2, $250,000 Caress at 5 1/2-furlongs for older filles and mares on July 11 as a steppingstone to this year's Ladies Turf Sprint on August 29. "She's doing good this morning. She'll head home [to California] on Tuesday and we might bring her back," Baltas said. "We might make it. Let's see how she bounces out of this. Last time, we went from this race to Kentucky Downs." Baltas, who will have stalls this summer at Saratoga, said he thoroughly enjoyed his time at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. "Saratoga is a great place to be. A great experience again and great racing all weekend," Baltas said. "I really like racing in New York, especially Saratoga. It's an amazing place. I'm not only a trainer, I'm a fan of the sport and it really is the top of the top. There are great riders out there, great horsemen." Ag Bullet banked $100,000 for her runner-up try in the Jaipur and surpassed $3 million in career purse earnings obtained through an 18-8-2-3 ledger.