NY Stallion Series Continues at Belmont

One of two horses entered in the Spectacular Bid by trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Darrin’s Dilemma has made three starts so far in 2011, breaking his maiden by 7 ½ lengths over Aqueduct’s inner track on March 10, finishing fourth against older horses in a New York-bred allowance on the Big A’s main track on April 9, and taking the NYSS Times Square Division by 2 ¼ lengths at Belmont Park on May 11.

The seven-furlong Spectacular Bid, which is restricted to 3-year-olds, will be the first start on turf for Darrin’s Dilemma, a son of Freud owned by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables LLC.

“Everything looks OK with him,” Rodriguez said of Darrin’s Dilemma. “Most horses in the field will be trying turf for the first time. They say Freuds run well on the grass, and we’re hoping he will.”

Ramon Dominguez will ride Darrin’s Dilemma, the 5-2 morning-line second choice, from post position 6.

Rodriguez’s other Spectacular Bid entrant, Freuds Ana Streak, exits a fourth-place finish behind his stablemate in the Times Square. Freuds Ana Streak will leave from the rail under Cornelio Velasquez at 12-1 on the morning line.

Bold Deed, who broke his maiden by 6 ¼ lengths on the inner track on March 12 prior to his neck victory in the Packett’s Landing overnight stakes over Aqueduct’s main track on April 10, looks to start a new winning streak having finished fifth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont on May 14. In the Spectacular Bid, the son of Anasheed will be cutting back from 1 1/8 miles and trying turf for the first time.

“I thought he ran a game race last time,” said Michael Hushion, who trains Bold Deed for Barry Schwartz. “He had every excuse to drop further back in the field, but he kept running. We’ve always been thinking about trying him over the turf, and we’re cutting back in distance because we thought he’d be one of the top horses in this spot.”

John Velazquez has the assignment aboard Bold Deed, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, from post position 2.

The Spectacular Bid field also includes With a Cape and Warrior Up, who both hail from the barn of Rodrigo Ubillo, as well as Our Eli, Actlikeyoumeanit, and Seek to Destroy.

Like Darrin’s Dilemma, Lady on the Run won a NYSS race in her most recent start, a maiden-breaking, 4 ¼-length victory in the Park Avenue Division at Belmont on May 8. The seven-furlong Cupecoy’s Joy division will also be her first start on turf and sixth overall.

Owned by Jeffry Tucker et al, Lady on the Run tuned up for Sunday’s race with a 50.99 four-furlong breeze around dogs on the turf on May 29.

“We worked her on grass last week, and she seemed to like it just fine,” said trainer John Morrison. “If she runs back to her last race, she should be very formidable.”

Alex Solis will ride Lady on the Run, the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, from post 2.

William J. Punk, Jr. and Philip Di Leo’s Hessonite looks to remain unbeaten as a 3-year-old, having defeated fillies and mares in a 1 1/16-mile New York-bred allowance over soft turf at Aqueduct on April 23. As a 2-year-old, the David Donk trainee broke her maiden in her second start, an off-the-turf event at Belmont in November, and was well beaten in a pair of main-track stakes races, the Maid of the Mist on Showcase Day in November and the Swirlaway overnight stakes at Aqueduct in November.

“I always felt like her future was on the grass,” said Donk. “She’s by Freud and comes from an all-European family. I got lucky and won an off-the-turfer with her, and then we experimented on the dirt. I think she’s good enough on grass that she can handle any distance.”

Hessonite, tabbed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, will leave from post 1 with Ramon Dominguez aboard.

Good Habits, Letshootpool, Freuds on Holidays, First Penny, and Sounds Freudian complete the Cupecoy’s Joy field.

Belmont will also a pair of overnight stakes on Sunday in the $60,000 Easy Goer for older horses at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and the $60,000 Xtra Heat for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on the turf. The Easy Goer drew Friend Or Foe, Tahitian Warrior, Rail Trip, Mission Impazible, and Convocation, while the Xtra Heat attracted Bellamy Star, Nina Fever, Triune, Sunlight Sonata, Ruthenia, Upper East Sider, and Indian Tale. You’re Kidding Me was entered for the main track only in the Xtra Heat.

The field for the $75,000 Spectacular Bid:

The field for the $75,000 Cupecoy’s Joy: