Gidu gets Royal Ascot audition in Belmont's Paradise Creek Stakes
Set to make his first start since winning the Columbia on March 10, Zayat Stables' Gidu will headline a competitive field of six in the $100,000 Paradise Creek for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on the Widener turf on Saturday at Belmont.
A son of the undefeated European champion Frankel, the Todd Pletcher-trained Gidu made his debut last summer at Saratoga Race Course, finishing second after being bumped at the start. He broke his maiden second time out at Gulfstream Park and stretched out to one mile for the Grade 3 Dania Beach, where he led throughout but was outdueled in the end to finish second by a head.
The Irish-bred Gidu got his breakthrough win in the Columbia at Tampa Bay Downs, closely tracking the early pace before kicking clear to win by 1 ¾ lengths and earn a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.
"We're cutting him back in distance with the thought of seeing how he does," said Pletcher. "He'll be a candidate for Royal Ascot should that go well. We've been pointing for this a while. He's been very consistent in all his races and he continues to train well, so we're optimistic he'll perform well."
Pletcher said Gidu, who drew post 5 and will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, has enough tactical speed to sit just off a hot pace if one develops.
"There's speed in there," added Pletcher. "I think he showed last time going a mile that he was able to set off a horse. He's naturally fast but he's hopefully kind enough to sit wherever Johnny wants him to."
Shipping east is Masked for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owner Abdullah Saeed Al-Maddah.
By Data Link, Masked made his debut on the dirt, where he finished a disappointing fifth before switching to the turf and breaking his maiden on February 10 at Santa Anita. He followed that effort with a win in an optional-claiming race on February 25. In his most recent start, he finished third in the five-furlong William Walker at Churchill Downs on April 28.
Following that effort, Masked shipped to Belmont, where he has turned in a trio of works, including five furlongs in 1:00.67 on the main track May 21.
"He's a talented horse," said Baffert. "Last time out, he kind of got shifted around but I thought still handled it well to finish third. He's a horse that possesses a lot speed and will appreciate a firm turf condition. It's a pretty talented group that he has to face but if he's able to get firm turf he should run his race."
Masked will break from post 4 with Luis Saez aboard.
Rounding out the field is Curlin's Honor for Casse and owners John Oxley and Breeze Easy, who enters off a win in the Woodstock on May 5 at Woodbine; Ambassador Jim for owner Patricia Generrazio and trainer Christophe Clement; Black Stetson for Ten Strike Racing and trainer Juan Guerrero. Final Frontier is entered for the main track only for Albertrani and Gololphin.