Bailey Has Good Day at Belmont

ELMONT, N.Y. —  Even though jockey Jerry Bailey lost for the 13th time in 14 tries in the Belmont Stakes when Silverbulletday faded to seventh, the day was hardly a disaster for the Hall of Fame rider.

He won four times on the 11-race card, including two victories for trainer Wayne Lukas.

Besides winning the $150,000 Riva Ridge with favored Yes It’s True, Bailey and Lukas teamed to win the opener with odds-on choice Dance Master, a 2-year-old son of Gone West who broke his maiden in his third career start.

Durmiente, who was the 3-1 second choice, had the highest odds of Bailey’s winners. Seemingly beaten with less than a furlong to run, the 5-year-old gelding came back on to beat favored Gold Star Deputy in the $50,000 Exceller Starter Handicap.

Bailey got the last of his winners when Yagli, the even-money choice, rallied strongly through the stretch to win the $300,000 Manhattan Handicap for owner Allen Paulson and trainer Bill Mott.

*

Winless since an allowance victory at Santa Anita nearly 14 months earlier, Cozy Blues rallied to beat U R UnForgettable and five other fillies and mares in the $157,700 Just A Game Breeders’ Cup Handicap, another stakes event on the Belmont undercard.

Ridden by Jorge Chavez for trainer H. James Bond, the 5-year-old Cure The Blues mare and 9-1 shot got up in the final yards to win by a neck in 1:33 1/5 for the mile on turf.

Another surprising win was provided by 26-1 shot Kashatreya, who came from far back under jockey Jean-Luc Samyn to beat favored Artax and seven others in the $150,000 True North Handicap.

This was the seventh win in 24 starts for the 5-year-old Daring Groom gelding, who is trained by John Hertler for owner Seymour Cohn.

*

Lemon Drop Kid’s shocker was not the only upset winner for trainer Scotty Schulhofer and jockey Jose Santos Saturday.

Two races after the Belmont, Schulhofer and Santos teamed to the win the finale with Qumran, a 3-year-old Cahill Road colt who paid $58 in winning for the second time in three starts.

*

At Hollywood Park, Fighting Falcon had a clean trip and responded with a one-length win over Eagleton in the $110,000 Cinema Handicap.

With Brice Blanc aboard for trainer Dave Hofmans and a partnership that includes breeder Dion Recachina, the 3-year-old son of Manila saved ground while reserved just off the pace, got through along the rail to take the lead around the turn and went on to beat Eagleton in 1:48 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf. He paid $7.40 as the 5-2 second choice.

Last month in the Will Rogers Handicap, Fighting Falcon stumbled at the start and was not a factor.

“We had a much better trip this time,” Blanc said. “He broke well and that definitely helped. He’s such a professional and he has so much class. He’s just a nice, nice horse.

“When I saw the hole [along the inside], I went for it. He went through there easily, without me asking him too much. When I did ask him, he took off.”

Crowning Storm, the 3-2 favorite, was fifth in his grass debut for trainer Ron McAnally and owner Sid Craig.

Eagleton, who had won the Will Rogers, finished a half-length in front of 15-1 shot Major Hero as the 5-2 third choice.

*

Oath, a 13-2 shot, won the Epsom Derby in England, beating Daliapour by nearly two lengths. Owned by Prince Ahmed bin Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp., Oates is trained by Henry Cecil and was ridden by Kieran Fallon. Beat All, who was handled by Gary Stevens, finished third.