Belmont Stakes 2017: Epicharis arrives in New York
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Photo:
NYRA
Carrot Farm's Japanese-bred multiple stakes winner Epicharis arrived at Belmont Park on Thursday ahead of his North American debut in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets, on Saturday, June 10.
Arriving on the grounds shortly before 3 p.m., Epicharis was greeted by exercise rider Masa Aki, who is also the assistant trainer to Kiyoshi Hagiwara, and groom Yoh Akima at Belmont's Barn 5, where he will complete his isolation and quarantine, a process usually lasting between 36-48 hours.
By Gold Allure, a son of the legendary 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence, Epicharis remained at the JRA Miho Training Center in Japan a little longer than originally scheduled due to mechanical repairs on the aircraft, delaying his Wednesday departure by about 10 hours. The entire trip took approximately 24 hours, his connections said, with a layover in Anchorage, Alaska, before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport Thursday afternoon.
Hagiwara is expected to arrive Friday afternoon. Epicharis is expected to clear quarantine Saturday morning and is scheduled to train over the main track. He is slated to put in his final breeze for the Belmont next Tuesday or Wednesday, Hagiwara said last week.
Epicharis was undefeated as a 2-year-old in his homeland, winning his first three starts in Japan by a combined 25 lengths. As a 3-year-old, Epicharis stamped himself a legitimate Triple Crown contender with a three-quarter-length victory in the Hyacinth at Tokyo in February and suffered the only loss of his budding career with a hard-fought second to Thunder Snow in the March 25 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse.
Epicharis will be eligible for NYRA's $1 million bonus offered to any Japan-based winner of New York's most prestigious race. Introduced for the 2017 Triple Crown season, the entire $1 million bonus would be awarded to the winning Japanese horse's connections in addition to the $800,000 winner's share of the purse for the last and longest leg of the Triple Crown.
Additionally, Japanese wagering on the 1 ½-mile "Test of the Champion" will be the first U.S. Triple Crown event available for pari-mutuel wagering in Japan. Japanese wagering on the Belmont Stakes will be conducted through a separate, non-comingled pool. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is scheduled for 6:37 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 10 (7:37 a.m. JST on Sunday, June 11).
Epicharis will join Koji Maeda's Lani as the first back-to-back Japanese competitors in the Belmont's storied history. Lani generated international interest as he competed in all three legs of last year's Triple Crown and turned in his best showing with a late-closing third to Creator in the Belmont. Christophe Lemaire has been aboard for all five of Epicharis' starts and is expected to retain the mount for the Belmont.
Source: NYRA Communications
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