New Century aims for more Grade 1 glory in Belmont Derby; Locked tops Suburban

New Century has shown to be a cut or two below top class in England, but he's a proven Grade 1 performer in North America. On Friday, the son of Kameko shoots for his second top-level victory, and first this season, in the $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1).

After being run at Aqueduct last year while Belmont Park is undergoing a multi-year reconstruction, the Belmont Derby has found a new home this season at Saratoga and has been reduced in distance again from its original 1 1/4 miles down to 1 1/8 miles.

New Century has yet to run this far, but his deep-closing tendencies suggest the longer the better. Although he impressively won the one-mile Summer (G1) at Woodbine last September, courtesy of a fast pace, New Century's rallies came too late in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), where he finished fourth, and in the May 3 American Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs, where he settled for third.

Test Score, who finished a nose ahead of New Century in the American Turf, re-opposes for trainer Graham Motion, who saddled the colt to a mild upset victory in the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland two back. Luther is the only foreign-based raider in the Belmont Derby. After finishing a strong fourth in the French 2000 Guineas (G1), the son of Frankel finished 15th of 18 in Prix du Jockey Club (G1), or French Derby.

Final Gambit, who rallied from last of 19 to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), was an even fourth in the much shorter Matt Winn (G3) last time. His only prior run on grass was in his debut last November, in which he finished third. Jeff Ruby (G3) runner-up Flying Mohawk finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby, but has two prior turf victories.

Longer shots in the field are last-out Audubon S. winner World Beater and the speedy Tank, a minor stakes winner at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park in his last three starts. Surprisingly, the longest shot in the field might be Chad Brown trainee, though Early Adopter has failed to distinguish himself in a pair of stakes appearances this season.

The $400,000 Suburban (G2) over 1 1/4 miles looks a proper spot for Locked to rebound off of a dull fourth to stablemate Fierceness in the May 2 Alysheba (G2). Backing up to 1 1/16 miles after taking the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita H. (G1), Locked made little impact in finishing fourth in the Alysheba.

Trainer Todd Pletcher also sends out Grade 3 winner Antiquarian, runner-up to Mystik Dan last out in the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Awesome Aaron and the front-running Phileas Fogg finished one-two in the Pimlico Special (G3) most recently, while Disarm is multiple Grade 1-placed over the Suburban track and distance. Bendoog was a close second as the odds-on choice in last year's Suburban, but this renewal has come up significantly tougher with Locked involved.

American Turf winner Zulu Kingdom is the horse to beat in the $200,000 Manila (G3) for three-year-olds over one mile on the turf, while Our Shot and Witty are among the contenders in a wide-open $150,000 Harvey Pack S. for older turf sprinters. The stakes action on Independence Day kicks in Race 2, the $150,000 Schuylerville S. for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs.