Irish raider Cape Blanco continues trainer AP O'Brien's modest 2011 assault on US racing tomorrow (Saturday) when lining up against six others in the Grade 1 Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park, New York. Partnered by jockey Jamie Spencer, the four-year-old moves back up to a favourable 11 furlongs after dropping down to a mile for Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes.
Winner of the last two Man O'Wars, Gio Ponti, is favourite for the late afternoon contest on Long Island, with 2010 second and fourth placed runners Mission Approved and Bearpath also trying their luck again.
Other Grade 1 contests taking place on Saturday include the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, California, and the Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder Park, Miami, Florida.
Belmont Park (Turf)
5.17 (10.17 BST) $600,000, Man O'War Stakes (Grade 1) 11f, 3-year-olds+ (7 runners)
Cape Blanco (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer) 3/1
Irish Derby and Champion Stakes winner Cape Blanco takes on the US challenge for the first time as he looks to get his season going following close runs in the UAE and France earlier in the year. His appearance at Royal Ascot was over a trip that doesn't suit. The firm ground, coupled with a move up to 11 furlongs, should work in his favour. Gio Ponti (Christophe Clement/RA Dominguez) and Mission Approved (Naipaul Chatterpaul/JL Espinoza) appear to be the biggest dangers.
Calder Park (Dirt)
5.32 (10.32 BST) $350,000, Princess Rooney Handicap (Grade 1) 6f, 3-year-olds+ fillies & mares (10 runners)
Sassy Image (Dale Romans/ME Smith)
Hollywood Park (Cushion Track)
7.37ET (12.37am BST) $500,000, Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Game On Dude (Bob Baffert/Chantal Sutherland) 8/1ew
Bob Baffert's four-year-old claimed the Santa Anita Handicap in March ahead of four of today's rivals, and although he hasn't won in two outings since, the Charles Town Classic (2nd) was on sloppy ground and the Lone Star Park Handicap (3rd) was over a shorter trip.
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