Four Keeneland Sales Graduates Entered in Belmont

Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, which has produced the past two winners of the Belmont (G1) in undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018 and Sir Winston in 2019, will be represented by graduatesDr Post, Fore Left, Max Player and Sole Volante among the 10 horses entered today in the 152^nd running of the $1 million race to be run Saturday at Belmont Park.

A total of nine of the past 14 Belmont winners are Keeneland sales graduates. Joining Justify and Sir Winston are Creator(2016), Palace Malice (2013), Ruler On Ice (2011), Drosselmeyer (2010), Da’Tara (2008), Rags to Riches (2007) and Jazil(2006).

Because a number of race meets and races were rescheduled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Belmont is the first leg of this year’s Triple Crown with the distance of the race reduced from 1½ miles to 1 1/8 miles. The first four finishers in the Belmont will receive 150-60-30-15 qualifying points, respectively, to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Sept. 5. 

The Triple Crown series concludes with the Preakness (G1) on Oct. 3.
The 3-year-old colts who are graduates of Keeneland sales entered in the 2020 Belmont are:

Dr Post (Quality Road-Mary Delaney) – Bred by Cloyce C. Clark, the Unbridled Stakes winner is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. Select Sales, agent, consigned the colt as a weanling to the 2017 November Breeding Stock, where he sold to Hunter Valley Farm for $200,000. Hunter Valley, agent, consigned Dr Post to the 2018 September Sale and sold him for $400,000 to Crupi’s New Castle/J.J. Crupi, agent. Todd Pletcher trains Dr Post for St. Elias Stable. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride.

Fore Left (Twirling Candy-Simply Sunny) – The Belmont will mark the first start since Reddam Racing’s colt won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Masdar (G3) at Meydan in February. Select Sales, agent for breeder Machmer Hall, consigned Fore Left to the 2018 September Sale, where he sold to Red Wings for $97,000. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Fore Left also won the 2019 Tremont (L) and Sunny Slope. He will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Max Player (Honor Code-Fools in Love) – K & G Stables bred the Withers (G3) winner, who races for George E. Hall. Linda Rice trains the colt, who was offered by Lane’s End, agent, at the 2018 September Sale. Joel Rosario will ride.

Sole Volante (Karakontie [JPN]-Light Blow) – Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone own the Sam F. Davis (G3) winner. Flaxman Holdings bred Sole Volante, who sold for $6,000 to New Hope AB at the 2018 September Sale from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. He is trained by Patrick Biancone and will be ridden by Luca Panici.

Use Keeneland Select any time, place advance wagers at Red Mile

Fans may wager on all the racing action from Belmont Park online through Keeneland Select or take advantage of advance wagering at Red Mile, the historic harness track in Lexington where Keeneland offers simulcast wagering. Parking and admission are free at Red Mile.

Keeneland Select enables players to watch and wager on racing from tracks around the world. Users earn lucrative rewards and support Keeneland’s mission to invest in Thoroughbred racing. A portion of Keeneland Select’s profits are reinvested in the sport through increased purses, fan development, player development and more. Click here for more information.

At Red Mile, advance wagering for Saturday’s entire Belmont Day card is available beginning Thursday at 12:20 p.m. ET and continuing all day on Friday. The Belmont undercard includes the $300,000 Acorn (G1), $250,000 Jaipur Presented by America’s Best Racing (G1), $250,000 Woody Stephens Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1), $150,000 Pennine Ridge (G2) and $150,000 Wonder Again (G3). 

Red Mile will open at 8 a.m. on Belmont Day, and fans are encouraged to make their wagers early in the day. Post time for the first of 11 races is 11:45 a.m. Post time for the Belmont is 5:42 p.m. 

On Saturday, if the simulcast facility at Red Mile is full, players will be able to “Park and Bet.” Simply use the designated entrance trackside to enter the facility, make your wager and exit.