Breeders' Cup preps highlight Belmont Fall Championship Meet

Breeders' Cup preps highlight Belmont Fall Championship

Meet

The grandstand at Belmont (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Belmont Park will begin its 2006 Fall Championship Meet on Friday, and the feature event of the 33-day meet will be the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on October 7. The 1 1/4-mile test will be the final prep for BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy) prior to the November 4 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and his first attempt against older rivals. The bay sophomore hopes to transfer his unbeaten Saratoga record to the Elmont, New York, track, having already added the Travers S. (G1) and Jim Dandy S. (G2) to his resume. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is but one of 12 Grade 1 events scheduled for the Fall Championship meet. On that same day, called Super Saturday, four other Grade 1 events will be run -- the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf; the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) for turf distaffers at 10 furlongs; the $600,000 Beldame S. (G1) sending fillies and mares 1 1/8 miles; and the $400,000 Vosburgh S. (G1) at six furlongs. Prestigious in its own right, each race is also considered a final prep for different Breeders' Cup divisions. Belmont Park Stadium Blankets will be given away on Super Saturday to all paid admissions, while supplies last.

The opening day feature, the $100,000 Gen. Douglas MacArthur H., only drew

three entrants, including multiple Grade 3 winner WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat),

and was scratched from Friday's card. It could be run on Sunday if enough horses

enter. That leaves the 8TH race, a mile allowance/optional claimer, as the

feature event on the day. A field of six, including Grade 2-placed LATENT HEAT

(Maria's Mon) and Grade 3-placed stakes winner SAINT DAIMON (Saint Ballado),

will go to the gate. Latent Heat could earn a spot in the October 1 Jerome

Breeders' Cup H.

(G2) against undefeated U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) victor DISCREET CAT (Forestry) if he

performs well on Friday.

Despite not running the MacArthur on opening day, the meet kicks off with a

bang, with four major events on the first weekend. The $250,000 Gazelle S. (G1)

on Saturday will send sophomore fillies nine furlongs while the $250,000 Garden

City Breeders' Cup (G1) offers a turf counterpart at the same distance for

three-year-old misses. The day also features the $500,000 Man o' War S. (G1) for

three-year-olds and up going 11 furlongs on the grass, and all paid admissions

on Saturday will receive a free Belmont Park Travel Mug while supplies last. On

Sunday, the $300,000 Ruffian H. (G1) will take center stage for distaffers going

8 1/2 furlongs.

New York-breds will get their chance to shine on October 21, with seven

stakes worth a total $1 million in purses. The nine-furlong Empire Classic for

three-year-olds and up is the feature contest on the day, which has been dubbed

the New York Showcase Fall Festival.

The Breakfast at Belmont returns once again, offering fans a

behind-the-scenes look at racing by allowing access to normally restricted areas

at Belmont. A train tour of the stable area, starting gate demonstration and the

Paddock Show with Sheila Lindquist will be part of the festivities. Breakfast is

optional and available for a nominal cost.

Belmont's Fall Championship Meet runs through October 22, with a first post

of 1 p.m. (ET) on all race days, Wednesday through Sunday. Except for opening

day Friday, when general admission and general parking are free, general

admission is $2, clubhouse admission $5, and children 12 and under will be

admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Belmont will be open on Monday, October 9, for Columbus Day, but closed on

October 10-11 before re-opening on October 12 with a normal first post of 1 p.m.