Saturday, September 12, 2009

Belmont Fall Championship Meet Opens

Belmont Park

A pair of Grade 1 races are featured on Saturday of the opening weekend of Belmont Park's Fall Championship Meet as racing returns to New York City after an outstanding meet at Saratoga. The Belmont Fall Championship Meet runs through October 25.

The $300,000 Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares three years old and upward at 1 1/16 miles on the main track is the co-feature today. A field of 6 is set to contest the race.

Horses To Watch for the Ruffian

Seventh Street - Post 1 - M/L 1/1 - Maragh / bin Suroor
Swift Temper - Post 2 - M/L 2/1 - Garcia / Romans
Be Fair - Post 3 - M/L 8/1 - Dominguez / Lukas

The $300,000 Grade 1 Garden City Handicap for fillies three years old to be run at 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf is the second co-feature today. A field of 8 is set to contest the race over the soft turf.

Horses To Watch for the Garden City

Gozzip Girl - Post 1 - M/L 2/1 - Desormeaux / Albertrani
Shared Account - Post 6 - M/L 4/1 - Dominguez / Motion
Pull Dancer - Post 7 - M/L 6/1 - Garcia / McLaughlin