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Brave Victory, Miner’s Escape Work at Belmont Park For The Belmont Stakes 2009
Robert V. LaPenta’s Belmont Stakes entriesBrave Victory and Miner’s Escape breezed a half-mile in company on the main track at Belmont Park Thursday morning as they prepped for a start in the 141st running of the $1-million Belmont Stakes 2009 on Saturday, June 6.
With Hall of Fame race horse trainer Nick Zito looking on, Brave Victory went four furlongs in 48.55, according to Equibase clockers, while Frederico Tesio winner Miner’s Escape went in 48.56 under jockey Jose Lezcano. Eddie Cruz was up on Brave Victory, third in the Peter Pan to Charitable Man at Belmont Park on May 9.
The works were the fourth- and fifth-fastest of 23 at the distance.
“Brave Victory is a better work horse than the other horse,” said race horse trainer Nick jockey Zito, who has named Rajiv Maragh to ride in the Belmont Stakes. “Brave Victory has always been an exceptional work horse. Miner’s Escape has never been a good work horse, ever, but that’s OK.
“I told Jose that [Miner’s Escape] is kind of quirky, mentally. Most Mineshafts are. They could be tough to train, but we’re willing to take the time with them. And it looks to me like [Brave Victory] will go the distance.”
Nick Zito, who won the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes in 2004 with Birdstone and in 2008 with Da’ Tara, also owned by LaPenta, has saddled a total of 20 Belmont Stakes horses in the race. He has finished second 6 times and third 3 times, including Anak Nakal’s dead-heat for third last year.
“We’ve done well in the Belmont, been consistent, so why not,” Nick Zito said. “I don’t have Secretariat with these two, but I don’t have to. You never know. Mine That Bird is definitely the horse to beat, no one can say he’s not. Anyway, there will be a lot of birds.”
Miner’s Escape and Brave Victory, a son of Lion Heart, could be joined in the Belmont Stakes 2009 by another Zito horse, Nowhere to Hide, who was 17th in the Kentucky Derby.
Also possible Belmont Stakes starters are Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Mr. Hot Stuff and Summer Bird.
Horse racing news edited from www.nyra.com.
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