WESTCHESTER HEADLINES BELMONT OPENING WEEKEND
The 56-day spring/summer meet at Belmont Park gets underway this week on Long Island, New York. This Elmont venue is among the top meets in all of racing and attracts some of the best horses not only in the states, but from abroad, as well. A total of 29 graded races will be contested at Belmont, with the most recognized event coming on June 11, the G1 Belmont Stakes. Also on that dazzling card are the G1 $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, G1 $400,000 Just A Game Stakes, G1 $300,000 Acorn Stakes, G $250,000 Woody Stephens Stakes and the G2 $250,000 True North Handicap.
Other big dates on the Belmont calendar include May 30, which plays host to the G1 $500,000 Met Mile Handicap, June 18 is the G1 $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap, June 25 is the G1 $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes, July 4 cards the G1 $250,000 Prioress Stakes and the G1 $600,000 Man o’ War Stakes is to be held on July 9.
The opening weekend feature is the G3 $100,000 Westchester Stakes. Among the likely candidates are multiple stakes winner Alma d’Oro, budding star Christmas for Liam, multiple graded stakes placed Convocation, Grade 1 returnee Haynesfield and Grade 2 star Regal Ransom.