Pennine Ridge Stakes 2021: Odds, pace projection, preview

Belmont Park, one week before its biggest day of the year, hosts a Grade 2 turf test Saturday for 3-year-olds.

The Jonathan Thomas-trained Hard Love is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles. Post time from Belmont is set for 5:12 p.m. EDT, with FS2 showing the track’s 10-race card.

Hard Love has won two of three lifetime starts, including his seasonal debut last month at Aqueduct in the Woodhaven Stakes. Jockey Javier Castellano seeks his third graded stakes win of 2021.

Thomas will hope the Kitten’s Joy ridgling Hard Love follows the path of his biggest star, Catholic Boy. The trainer saddled that one to a 2018 Pennine Ridge victory before triumphs later that year in both the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1).

The 2021 Pennine Ridge field features a Kentucky Derby starter in Sainthood (4-1), who makes his turf debut Saturday. He earned a Derby spot by finishing second at Turfway Park in the Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3), then ran 11th on the first Saturday in May as a 43-1 long shot.

Sainthood will run at Belmont Park a week before some of his fellow 2021 Kentucky Derby alumni take on the Belmont Stakes.

Saturday’s Pennine Ridge sets the stage for the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds. That trio of races consists of the $1 million Belmont Derby on July 10, the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) on Aug. 7 and the $1 million Jockey Club Derby back at Belmont on Sept. 18.

Here is a look at the 2021 Pennine Ridge Stakes field (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Shawdyshawdyshawdy (Jorge Abreu, John Velazquez), 20-1

2. Step Dancer (Barclay Tagg, Manny Franco), 10-1

3. Shaftesbury (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 6-1

4. Hard Love (Jonathan Thomas, Javier Castellano), 9-5

5. Sainthood (Todd Pletcher, Joel Rosario), 4-1

6. Minuteman (Todd Albertrani, Luis Saez), 30-1

7. Public Sector (Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz), 9-2

8. Safe Conduct (Philip Serpe, Jose Lezcano), 6-1

9. The Reds (John Kimmel, Kendrick Carmouche), 12-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show Sainthood going out to set a fast pace under jockey Joel Rosario, followed by stablemate Shaftesbury. Hard Love is expected to track the Pletcher duo.

Belmont Stakes look-ahead

The Memorial Day weekend features plenty of stakes action over the next three days, with graded events at Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Lone Star and Santa Anita. Still, most racing fans are likely looking ahead toward next weekend’s Belmont Stakes card.

The Triple Crown’s final leg is one of eight Grade 1 races scheduled for June 5 on a day that includes events like the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1).

Stay tuned to Horse Racing Nation this weekend for coverage of Belmont Stakes contenders’ timed tune-ups.

Preakness Stakes hero Rombauer is picking up steam in international betting markets for the Belmont. He worked Friday over Big Sandy under his new jockey, John Velazquez.

Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a trio of Belmont hopefuls Friday morning, including Florida Derby (G1) winner Known Agenda. Watch videos of their works and read Pletcher’s comments.

Across the country at Santa Anita, Hot Rod Charlie drilled five furlongs Friday under jockey Flavien Prat while Rock Your World fired a bullet over the same distance for trainer John Sadler.

UAE Derby (G2) winner Rebel’s Romance has worked… and worked… and worked for the Belmont. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s assistant talked about the gelding’s progress as he prepares for a U.S. debut.

The dosage index may not be a prominent modern handicapping tool, but Ron Flatter talks to an analyst who says it can be a useful prism – when used properly ­– to explore the balance of Belmont runners’ pedigrees.

The Belmont pace scenario appears soft as compared to the Preakness, with Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon both sitting this race out. Reinier Macatangay writes how this makes Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero Rock Your World key to the early pace.

Keeler Johnson relives the four most dominant Belmont Stakes performances. You probably already know which Hall of Famer’s victory ranks No. 1.

Other Saturday stakes

Courtesy of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, here is a look at some of the other stakes action taking place Saturday across the U.S. All times are EDT.

For more on these races, check out Saturday plays for Churchill Downs and HorseCenter’s Matt Winn Stakes handicapping.

4:22 p.m. – $150,000 Regret Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, FS2

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber’s Spanish Loveaffair leads a field of nine 3-year-old fillies in a wide-open Regret Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Churchill Downs. Trained by Mark Casse, Spanish Loveaffair, a bay daughter of 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie, finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Spanish Loveaffair has had some tough racing luck this year. She crossed the wire first in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 27, but in a controversial decision, was disqualified for interference and was placed fourth. In her most recent start, the Appalachian Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, she was bumped at the start and trailed a field of six. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount, breaking from post 4. Lazy F. Ranch’s Gam’s Mission, defeated Mark Detampel’s Flown by a neck in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Churchill on May 8. Gam’s Mission, trained by Cherie DeVaux, will be ridden by Adam Beschizza from post seven. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount aboard Flown, trained by Brendan Walsh, from post eight.

4:55 p.m. – $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, FS2

Two runners exiting the Kentucky Derby – O Besos (fifth) and Helium (eighth) – lead eight 3-year-olds in the Matt Winn Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Trained by Greg Foley for Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry Stephens, O Besos finished third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) prior to the Run for the Roses. O Besos will break from post three under Marcelino Pedroza. D.J. Stable’s Helium, trained by Casse and ridden by Julien Leparoux from post two, has won three of four starts, including the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at 15-1. Juddmonte’s Fulsome, trained by Brad Cox, also has won three of his four races, including an impressive 1¼-length victory in the listed 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 1.

Related: Maiden winner could upset Matt Winn

6:15 p.m. – $100,000 Daytona Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, TVG 

Venerable geldings Bombard, trained by Richard Mandella, and Law Abidin Citizen, trained by Mark Glatt, will vie for favoritism among five turf sprinters in the Daytona Stakes at 6½ furlongs at Santa Anita. The 8-year-old Bombard will be ridden from post two by Florent Geroux. A five-time winner, Bombard finished second by a half-length in a six-furlong allowance prep over the course April 25. Law Abidin Citizen, a 7-year-old by Twirling Candy, has not started since a third-place finish in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) on Aug. 29 at Del Mar. Ridden from post four by Abel Cedillo, Law Abidin Citizen has won four of nine starts on the Santa Anita turf course.

7:19 p.m. – $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, TVG 

LNJ Foxwoods United looms as the prohibitive favorite against three rivals in the Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1¼ miles on turf. An eight-time winner for Mandella, including last year’s Whittingham, United, a 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway, opened the season with a victory in Santa Anita’s San Luis Rey Stakes (G3) at 1½ miles March 20. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 4. Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte’s 7-year-old chestnut Red King last year won both the San Juan Capistrano (G3) at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Handicap (G2). Trained by Phil D’Amato, Red King will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli from post 3. D’Amato has also entered California-bred Acclimate, who finished second in the San Marcos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in February. 

7:52 p.m. – $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, TVG

A field of five has been entered for the 70th Triple Bend Stakes, a race at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. Jerome S. Moss’ Lambeau will try to break into the graded stakes win column Saturday after a sharp one-mile optional allowance claiming win at Santa Anita on April 10, going wire to wire. Trained by John Shirreffs, Lambeau will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado from post two. The 4-year-old Eight Rings, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Prat from post five, will be making his first start since finishing seventh last August in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. The Peter Eurton-trained 4-year-old Exaulted was third in the San Carlos at Santa Anita on March 6.

Pennine Ridge preview

Hard Love proved stakes capabilities in his 2021 debut and will attempt to display his talent once more against eight others in Saturday’s eighth running of the $200,000 Pennine Ridge (G2), a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Owned by Robert V. LaPenta and George Strawbridge, Jr.’s Augustin Stable, Hard Love utilized tactical speed last out in the Woodhaven on April 17 at Aqueduct, where he tracked a half-length behind pacesetter Original along the rail before drawing off in the stretch to a 1¼-length victory.  

Following a two-length first out debut win over the Widener turf course Oct. 10, the Kitten’s Joy ridgling finished second to Never Surprised in the Central Park on Nov. 28 at Aqueduct.

Hard Love will stretch out slightly in the nine-furlong Pennine Ridge, with all three of his starts having taken place going 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Jonathan Thomas, who saddled Catholic Boy to a Pennine Ridge triumph in 2018 for LaPenta, said the horse will relish any added distance that comes his way.

“My guess is that the further the races get, the closer to the pace he’ll be,” Thomas said. “He seems to have pretty good tactical speed. I would imagine the further the run, the better he’s going to get. His strength is his stamina.”

The Pennine Ridge is a local prep for the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on July 10, which is the first leg of NYRA’s Turf Triple series.

Thomas has the 10-furlong event in mind for Hard Love with a strong effort on Saturday.

“Each race is a test and a steppingstone to the next,” Thomas said. “We’re trying to get to the Belmont Derby, but the Pennine Ridge is no slouch of a race either. He’s going to have to show up and run really well. Obviously, we have our dirt classics, but NYRA bringing this series to the forefront is great. There are some really good grass races and some really, really good turf horses. Each task gets taller as it goes on.”

Hard Love put the final touches on his Pennine Ridge preparations with a sharp half-mile work over the inner turf Sunday morning in tandem with Burning Bright. The pair completed the four furlongs in 47.60 seconds.

“Overall, I thought the work was pretty good,” Thomas said. “I thought his last two five-eighths works were very good as well. From a preparation standpoint, he’s dead fit and it will be a matter of trip and everything else.”

Hard Love will be reunited with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano from post 4.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the inaugural Pennine Ridge with Gala Award in 2014, will seek his second win in the race when he saddles graded stakes-placed Sainthood and maiden special weight winner Shaftesbury.

Owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, Sainthood will make his turf debut after an 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

A son of second crop sire Mshawish, a Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf also trained by Pletcher, Sainthood won at second asking in his two-turn debut at Fair Grounds, where he led at every point of call. He followed up with a late closing second to Like the King in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 27 over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park.

Since the Kentucky Derby, Sainthood has worked twice over the inner turf at Belmont Park. Pletcher said Sainthood has the potential to succeed on turf given his pedigree, being out of the turf stakes-placed Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Hero.

“He and Mshawish have similar physiques and like Mshawish, this one seems pretty versatile,” Pletcher said. “We’ve had turf in the back of our minds with this one all along. With him being out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare and being by Mshawish, his breeding suggested that. I thought his two works on the turf here were really good.”

Sainthood will break from post 5 under jockey Joel Rosario.

While Sainthood brings stakes experience to his next engagement, Shaftesbury will dive into deeper waters after making his fifth start a winning one travelling 1 1/16-miles on April 24 at Belmont Park.

Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Coolmore partners Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, the bay son of Uncle Mo broke his maiden by 2¾ lengths after finishing behind solid runners such as dual stakes-winner Annex at second asking.

“He’s held good company,” Pletcher said. “His last race was a good race and hopefully was a breakthrough race to lead us into some better things.”

Breaking from post 3, Shaftesbury will be ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Trainer Chad Brown will seek a record extending third Pennine Ridge triumph with Klaravich Stables’ Public Sector.

The bay son of European champion Kingman earned black type when finishing second to Fire At Will in the Pilgrim (G2) on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park, which came after defeating eventual graded stakes winner Scarlett Sky by two lengths on debut at Saratoga.

After a distant 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Public Sector received a freshening and came back May 2 to finish second beaten 2½ lengths to fellow Pennine Ridge rival Safe Conduct (post 8, Jose Lezcano).

Jockey Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 7.

Completing the field are Shawdyshawdyshawdy (post 1, John Velazquez), Step Dancer (post 2, Manny Franco), Minuteman (post 6, Luis Saez), and The Reds (post 9, Kendrick Carmouche).

The Pennine Ridge is carded as Race 9 on Saturday’s 10-race program at Belmont Park. First post is 1 p.m. EDT.