It was an auspicious start for Belmont Park and jockey Antonio Fresu and just like old times for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Exactly 1,167 days after the final race at the former Belmont Park, racing made an energetic return to a more modern and glitzy Belmont Park Sept. 18 with a nine-race card that opened with a victory by a filly trained by one of New York's most accomplished and respected trainers.
In a page out of the 1980s and 1990s at Belmont Park, Hall of Famer McGaughey won both ends of the initial daily double, including the opener with Andrew Rosen's 12-1 shot Lisa Joy in a $150,000 maiden special weight turf race for fillies and mares.
"You've heard me say many times Belmont's my favorite place. I've waited three years and to win like this, it's special," McGaughey said after the historic first race.
The wait was shorter for Fresu, who moved his tack from California to New York for the start of the Belmont Park fall meet. After one mount, he had his first win in a highly memorable setting.
"It's an amazing feeling to be part of this historical track and historical reopening of Belmont Park," Fresu said. "It's a perfect start. It's 100%. I have to thank the owner and trainer for giving me a chance straight away from my first weekend."
McGaughey called the victory "a good story for (Fresu)."
It surely fit the mood of the opening day at the new facility.
Standing in the new winner's circle for the first time—but not the last—McGaughey called the new facility "a beautiful place."
"It's different than what I expected. I just think we have to let them get the kinks out. I think it will be really special," he added. "It's more modern than the old building. Where to go and what to do, I haven't figured that out. But I think its going to be great when everything gets settled in. I think the tracks are great. Obviously, I like the turf but I have been training on the main track and I think it's really good."
Lisa Joy ($26.72), a 3-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot, prevailed by a head over Sister Jean (McKinzie ) with Osmosis, a daughter of Siyouni, another neck behind in third.
Time for the 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf course was 2:02.11
McGaughey took the second race with Davidson, a 2-year-old daughter of American Pharoah.
Owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Mike Carter, Cambron Equine, and Jeff Walsh, Davidson ($5.58) prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the 7-furlong, $150,000 maiden dirt sprint for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies after finishing third in her debut.
