Ward Sends Out Two in Tremont

A group of five 2-year-olds, headed by a pair from the barn of trainer Wesley Ward, are set to contest the $100,000 Tremont at 5 ½ furlongs on Friday at Belmont Park.

Friday will also mark the first "Party at the Park" of 2014. First race post is set for 3 p.m., with the Tremont scheduled to go off at 4:02 p.m. as the third race. The post-race activities begin after the last race, which has a post time of 7:08 p.m., after which there will be a Billy Joel tribute band performing in the backyard.

At 2-1 on the morning line, Bessie's Boy, a gelded son of Smoke Glacken, is the more accomplished of Ward's entries.

Bessie's Boy debuted successfully on April 17 at Pimlico Race Course, beating a field of seven maidens by three-quarters of a length. The maiden win, which was worth $22,800, recouped the $15,500 investment Ice Wine Stable shelled out for the bay gelding as a weanling.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be aboard Bessie's Boy and the duo will depart from post 3.

Rounding out the uncoupled Ward entry is first-time starter Jamaalaree, a chestnut filly owned and bred by Victor George Bahna, Jr. Jamaalaree, a New York-bred daughter of Congaree, put in the bulk of her preparation at Gulfstream Park before shipping to Churchill Downs and logging a series of four-furlong works.

Abel Lezcano has the mount on Jamaalaree, who sits at 8-1 on the morning line and will break from the rail.

Chocolate Wildcat, trained by Jason Servis for owner-breeder Dennis Drazin, is the 9-5 favorite on the morning line. The son of Wildcat Heir won his debut on April 25 at Gulfstream Park by two lengths, completing the 4 ½ furlongs in 51.80 seconds.

Chocolate Wildcat will break from post 2 with Javier Castellano in the irons.

King Rontos, a first-time starter trained by Rudy Rodriguez, and Shrewd Move, who won his last race by 18 lengths for trainer Dan McFarlane, complete the field.