Belmont Race Brings Out Best in New York

The five horses running in today’s seventh race at Belmont Park, a $50,000 overnight handicap at six furlongs, are better than average New York breds.

West Virginia, Clever Electrician, Show Boot, Karakorum Patriot and Legislature have combined for 28 victories in 96 starts and earned $1,282,906.

Legislature tops the quintet with eight victories. A 6-year-old gelded son of Anjiz owned by Leann and Tom Boyan Jr. and trained by Mike Hushion, Legislature has started only 14 times. He has won three of his last four and has two victories in four starts at Belmont. Richard Migliore will ride.

The richest member of the group is West Virginia. Owned by Donald and Mary Zuckerman and trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Tomorrows Cat colt has earned $477,390 while winning five of 13. This will be the first time he has run six furlongs since he won the $125,000 Great White Way on Nov. 9, 2003 at Aqueduct.

As for the others, Clever Electrician has seven victories in 27 starts and will be making his first appearance since he finished second in the Hudson Handicap on Oct. 23, Show Boot has won five of 14 and Karakorum Patriot has three victories in 28 attempts.

Race of the day: Always First gets a jockey change to Corey Nakatani and adds blinkers as he tries for his second U.S. win in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park. Neil Drysdale trains the 4-year-old Barathea gelding for Maktoum al Maktoum and the trainer also will send out One Off in the $55,000 allowance at 1 1/4 miles on turf. Urban King, Fantastic Spain, Star Pupil and J J Wantsthefront complete the field. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $89,690.

One for the road: Quick One has trained as if she plans on living up to her name and can win at first asking in today’s fourth at Belmont. Edgar Prado will ride the 3-year-old daughter of Afternoon Deelites in the $41,000 race for New York-bred maidens at six furlongs. Hushion, winning at about a 30% clip in 2005, trains Quick One for owners Jay Weiss and Barry Schwartz.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Top One in the third, Freakin Streakin, Cusco and Crowded Room in the fourth and Sabalucious, Award Winning Team and Ghost Memo in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/103. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19.20/$521.30. Total money bet: $760.