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Private Zone much the best in Belmont Sprint Championship

Private Zone was never seriously asked (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Good Friends Stable LLC's Private Zone (Macho Uno) broke on top and dominated the rest of the way in Saturday's $384,000 Belmont Sprint Championship (G3), scoring comfortably by a 3 1/4-length margin. The six-year-old was favored at 1-5 over four rivals and completed seven furlongs in 1:22 2/5 with regular rider Martin Pedroza. Trained by Jorge Navarro, Private Zone is now three for four at Belmont, winning the last two editions of the Vosburgh (G1), and he also captured the 2014 Cigar Mile H. (G1) at Aqueduct. The bay gelding was exiting a respectable third in the Metropolitan H. (G1) on the June 6 Belmont Stakes undercard. Cutting back to a more favorable sprint distance, Private Zone performed at a different level from his foes. He cruised through an opening quarter-mile in :22 2/5 on a short lead before reaching the half-mile in :44 3/5 with a 3 1/2-length cushion. After six furlongs in 1:09, the dynamic front-runner was under wraps the rest of the way. With the $220,000 payday, the Ontario-bred has now earned $2,233,120 from a 29-9-8-3 record.

Clearly Now (Horse Greeley), who established a new track record winning the 2013 Belmont Sprint Championship, rallied belatedly for second, 2 1/4 lengths better than third-placer Stallwalkin' Dude (City Place). Green Gratto (Here's Zealous) and C. Zee (Elusive Bird) rounded out the finish, with The Big Beast (Yes It's True), Bay of Plenty (Medaglia d'Oro) and Moonlight Song (Unbridled's Song) all being scratched.

Bred by Adena Springs, Private Zone sold for $15,000 as a 2010 Keeneland September yearling and is now owned by a partnership that includes former jockey Rene Douglas. He's out of the unraced Siphon mare Auburn Beauty and hails from the female family of U.S. turf champion Chief Bearhart (Chief's Crown).

After starting his racing career in Panama, Private Zone made his U.S. debut at Del Mar in 2012. The accomplished sprinter notched his eighth career stakes victory on Saturday and has placed in a number of important events, including a third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last fall. He was previously trained by Alfredo Velazquez and Doug O'Neill.

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