Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park

Dave Bond, OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV -- The Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes comes our way this Saturday, May 26th from Belmont Park. $200,000 is on the line for fillies and mares three yards old and upward as they race 1 3/8 miles on Belmont's inner turf track.

A field of 14 have been entered for the Sheepshead which is race 8 on Belmont's Saturday card. Post time for the race is 4:34 PM. Here is a look at entries and what brought them to this Grade 2 race.

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2012 Sheepshead Bay Stakes Race Favorites

Aruna - had a very productive 2011 with a second in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes last May, a win in the Grade 3 Edward P. Evans All Along Stakes in June, a second in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes in July and a win in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes in October. Her last two results however have been less than spectacular - a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November and a sixth in her only start this year in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes. Pace was the problem in her two unflattering starts - she still has the speed.

Hit It Rich - has won three of her last four starts - a second in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes on February 11th being her only blemish in the last seven months. Her wins include an Allowance at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in November and most recently the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream on March 31st.

Sheepshead Bay Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Aqsaam - has four career starts with three wins and a second place finish. Aqsaam finished second to Hit It Rich most recently in the Orchid in her stakes debut. Aqsaam is so far unheralded but has shown that she can contend against top level competition.

Sheepshead Bay Stakes betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Principal Role - made her US debut with a decent third in the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont on May 5th after success in her native England. Principle Role won two of her last three races in England and has five wins, one second and three four place wins in 13 career starts.

Woodford Belle - has participated in three straight graded stakes races finishing second last time out in the Grade 3 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes on April 26th, fourth in the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes and third in the Grade 3 The Very One Stakes in February. Woodford Belle has looked decent against top competition.

Mystical Star - won an Allowance race last time out on April 21st at Keeneland in her first race since July of last year -a seventh in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks. Mystical Star has yet to win a graded stakes race in six career starts but did finish second in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes in March of last year.

Magical Cat - made her US debut on April 20th with a win in an Allowance race at Aqueduct. Before that she had a win a second and an eighth place finish in Europe.

Distorted Legacy - finished third most recently in the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream on April 8th and before that was a respectable fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Distorted Legacy finished an impressive second in October in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes after a fifth in the Grade 1 Ruffian Invitational Handicap in July.

Hasay - won an Allowance race last time out at Keeneland on April 11th and before that looked OK in a pair of Grade 3 races - a sixth in The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream in February and a fourth in the Long Island Handicap in November.

Senada - has raced three times in 2012 finishing third last time out in the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland and finishing seventh in the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes.

A pair of grade 2 winners Arena Elvira and Acting Happy lead a group of four Main Track Only entrants.


2012 Sheepshead Bay Stakes Entries

Race 8 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:34 PM.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Mystical Star J. Lezcano C. Clement
10-1
2 Magical Cat (IRE) J. Velazquez J. Terranova, II
20-1
3 Aqsaam R. Napravnik K. McLaughlin
4-1
4 Hit It Rich J. Castellano C. McGaughey III
7-2
5 Aruna R. Dominguez H. Motion
3-1
6 Principal Role J. Alvarado W. Mott
6-1
7 Distorted Legacy R. Maragh A. Penna, Jr.
6-1
8 Woodford Belle E. Prado M. Nihei
12-1
9 Hasay (GB) J. Leparoux H. Motion
15-1
10 Senada E. Castro B. Tagg
15-1
11 Arena Elvira (MTO) . W. Mott
5-2
12 Acting Happy (MTO) R. Dominguez R. Dutrow, Jr.
8-1
13 Pinch Pie (MTO) J. Castellano A. Dutrow
3-1
14 Draw It (MTO) R. Maragh T. Albertrani
7-2