Las Vegas, NV - The 54th running of the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap comes our way from the freshened-up re-opened Belmont Park on Saturday September 8. Horses three years old and upward will be after their share of the $200,000 purse when they go 1 1/4 miles on Belmont's inner turf course.

A small but quality field of five with one main track only entrant will line up in the Bowling Green in race 3 on Belmont's Saturday card. Post time is 1:54 PM. Here is a brief glimpse into the past performances of the six entries ahead of this Grade 2 race.

2012 Bowling Green Handicap Race Favorites

Air Support - was very impressive in 2011 - a win in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby last July highlighted a year that included a second at the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes in June, a third in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes in May and a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stake last April. But in 2012 he has not quite been the same - he had a third last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Saratoga on August 6, a close second to Turbo Compressor in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth on July 7 and a second to Turbo Compressor again at the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes at Colonial Downs in June. He has been close in his last three starts and will be looking to get over the jump on Saturday. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez gets the mount Saturday.

Brilliant Speed - has placed in and won multiple graded stakes races in the last year but has failed to win in 2012 recording just two third place finishes in five starts. He won the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes last April for his best result in a while but did have a decent third last time out to Point of Entry in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on August 18. He also had a third at the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in May. Brilliant Speed has just three wins in 18 career starts for trainer Thomas Albertrani but should provide a little competition for Air Support on Saturday.

Bowling Green Handicap 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Newsdad - recently finished a disappointing fifth in the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 27 and then followed that up with a fourth in the Man o'War Stakes and a fourth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer against many of his Bowling Green running mates. He had an impressive victory over Simmard at the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream in March for his best result this year to follow a close second on February 26 in the Mac Diarmida. Newsdad has failed to place in his last three starts and will be looking to rebound this Saturday.

Bowling Green Handicap betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Bombaguia - will be making his stakes debut on Saturday having placed in four of seven Allowance races this year. He has three wins in 16 career starts and takes an enormous step up in competition for the Bowling Green.

Brujo de Olleros - had four wins in five starts in his native Brazil before shipping to North America. In his only start on North American soil he was fourth in the minor Majestic Lights Stakes at Monmouth on July 29.

Redeemed - main track only entry that has placed in 12 of 13 career starts and winning eight including the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup last time out. He may be the most impressive entry but will only run if they move the race.

2012 Bowling Green Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 3 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 1:54 PM.