Belmont Stakes May See a Powershift

Stakes experience has long been a prerequisite in the modern history of the Belmont Stakes (G1), with the vast majority of participants—and, in particular, most winners—exiting the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, the Preakness Stakes (G1) or Sir Barton Stakes in Maryland, or the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) in New York. But a new era has arrived. For the third consecutive year, the Belmont Stakes will be contested at 1 1/4 miles because of the configuration at Saratoga Race Course, its temporary home during the reconstruction of Belmont Park. Not until next year, when the third and final leg of the Triple Crown returns to a rebuilt and modernized Belmont Park, will it again be run at its demanding 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" distance. That shorter trip has encouraged some connections in recent years to take chances with colts outside the customary mold. Two years ago, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Mindframe entered the Belmont off just two prior starts—a maiden victory and an allowance optional claiming score for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher—and nearly pulled off the win, finishing a second by a half-length to Dornoch. Signs of his inexperience showed in the stretch when he drifted under urging. Pletcher and Repole now return June 6 with another lightly raced colt in Powershift, who owns just one victory from three starts. He is one of two expected Belmont entrants for Pletcher, a four-time Belmont Stakes-winning trainer, along with the more seasoned Renegade, the Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low-owned Arkansas Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up. "We've always been very high on him all the way back to last summer, before we had to give him a little time, always trained top of the class," Pletcher said of Powershift during a May 28 media teleconference. "Yeah, I think it does make a difference that the race is a mile and a quarter this year, being a little more lightly raced, a mile and a half might have been biting off a little too much, but we feel like he's got a very good foundation of races, and he's run numbers that would be competitive with the field. And, like I said, we've always been very keen on the way he trains." Powershift mirrors Mindframe in another respect: both ran and won on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs, leaving five weeks between starts heading into the Belmont. A son of Constitution, Powershift used his tactical speed to press the pace before drawing clear of seven winless rivals in a 2 3/4-length victory May 2 at Churchill Downs with 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.86. The effort followed a sixth-place finish in the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and a debut second Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs behind Emerging Market, who returned to capture the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots the following month. Reflecting on Powershift's unconventional path, Pletcher said, "I think it's definitely a trend that we're seeing more and more of—more lightly raced horses going into bigger races; it's not unusual for horses to jump right out of a maiden race and into a graded stakes, in this case, a classic." Along with Renegade and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo, Emerging Market is a leading contender for the Belmont Stakes, which is expected to attract a field of about 10 3-year-olds when post positions are drawn June 1. Powershift finished slightly in front of Renegade during a joint half-mile breeze in :49.80 May 21 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. The pair are likely to have another workout May 29 or May 30, depending on the weather. Powershift's natural speed could prove to be a major asset in a Belmont Stakes field that appears short of pace. The demanding fractions that developed in the Kentucky Derby seem less likely to materialize at Saratoga, particularly with two late-running colts—the Cherie DeVaux-trained Golden Tempo and Renegade—widely regarded by rival connections as the ones to beat. Luis Saez is scheduled to be aboard Powershift, while Irad Ortiz Jr. remains aboard Renegade after riding both 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs in their most recent starts. Pletcher noted that "more and more people are willing to go ahead and step into the deep waters early on in their horses' careers." For Powershift, his sink-or-swim moment arrives in the Belmont.