Reload Meets Wicked Strong in Forbidden Apple
Phipps Stable's Reload will attempt to extend his win streak to four when he returns to face a highly competitive field in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf on Saturday at Belmont Park.
A son of Hard Spun, the 6-year-old chestnut trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey made a sensational 2015 debut last out in his first start at Belmont when he bested a field of six in an optional claimer on May 22 by 2 ¼ lengths.
"He's been doing really well," said McGaughey. "We were very pleased with his first race back and I just gave him a little time in between and everything's been positive so far. He did surprise me a little bit off the layoff. He had been doing fine but it had been so long since he had run. His works on the dirt had been okay, so I was a little bit surprised at how good he ran."
The morning-line favorite at 5-2, Reload will depart from the rail with regular rider Javier Castellano aboard.
Set to make his turf debut for trainer Jimmy Jerkens is Centennial Farms' Wicked Strong. The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun last reached the winners' circle last July capturing the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course. Wicked Strong tries the green after encountering a difficult trip in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile on Belmont Stakes Day.
Speaking from his shedrow, Jerkens described the Forbidden Apple as the perfect spot to test his colt's ability on the turf and moving forward.
"We worked him on the turf and I thought he worked good," said Jerkens. "We're just trying to see if he likes it, it might be something new to do with him. If not, at least if he runs decent we can run him back on the dirt. It seems like horses that run on the turf, even if it's not their preferred distance, they run back on the dirt afterwards and it seems like more times than not, they run some of the best races of their life. It's kind of an angle I was going for, it's a month before the Whitney [August 8, Saratoga Race Course] so the timing was good. It's far enough away from his last race and in the middle."
Drawing post 6, Wicked Strong will leave with Rajiv Maragh in the irons.
The 3-1 morning line second choice, Grand Arch will look to rebound off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 2 for trainer Brian Lynch and owners Jim and Susan Hill. Previous to that race, the 6-year-old gelding recorded a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in an allowance race victory at Keeneland on April 15.
With two wins and four second-place finishes from nine starts at the distance, Grand Arch will leave from post 5 with jockey Luis Saez.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will enter Vyjack, making his second start on the turf, for Pick Six Racing. A half-sister to this year's Grade 1 Just a Game winner Tepin, his turf debut at Belmont was impressive as he sat well off a pace set by eventual winner and front-runner King Kressa, to finish second in the Grade 3 Poker on June 13.
"It was our first time running him so we just wanted to try something different," said Leana Willaford, assistant to Mott. "He had worked really well on the grass for us. I think the owners have always thought about running on turf a little bit, he has some turf pedigree. It's nice he's versatile enough that he can run on both surfaces."
Drawing post 4, Vyjack will once again be ridden by Junior Alvarado.
Rounding out the field is Grade 3 Poker winner King Kressa for David Donk and owners Gerald and Susan Kresa; Howe Great for Team Valor International and trainer Thomas Bush; out of town shipper Aztec Brave for trainer Joe Sharp; and Choctaw Chuck.
Source: NYRA Communications