Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Suburban Handicap comes our way from Belmont Park in New York this Saturday, July 7th. Horses three years old and upward will go 1 1/8 miles on Belmont's main dirt track in search of their share of the $350,000 purse.

The Suburban Handicap has attracted a deep field of eight to go in race 9 on Belmont's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:06 PM. Let's take a look at all eight and the credentials that brought them to this lucrative Grade 2 race.

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2012 Suburban Handicap Race Favorites

To Honor and Serve - will make his third start of 2012 after an impressive win at the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes on this track on April 28th and a third last time out in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap here on May 28th. 2011 was good to this horse - he closed it out with a win in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in November at Aqueduct. To Honor and Serve won three of four starts in 2011 - the only hiccup being a disappointing seventh at the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November. To Honor and Serve has seven wins a second and three third place finishes in 12 career starts and may be the best of the impressive field.

Stay Thirsty - finished a respectable third in October on this track in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes but followed it up with a disappointing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Classic to end 2011. In his only start this year, Stay Thirsty was a decent second in the minor Vanlandingham Stakes here on May 17th. He may not be in the best form at present but Stay Thirsty is still on the radar for the Suburban.

Suburban Handicap 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Caixa Electronica - Todd Pletcher trained Caixa Electronica has won two big races in his last three starts - the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic Stakes on April 4th and the Grade 2 True North Handicap last time out here on June 8th. He also finished a respectable third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on this track on May 28th. He has an incredible 54 career starts but is in the best form of his career going into the Suburban.

Hymn Book - won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap in impressive fashion in February over Mission Impazible but followed that up with an uninspiring fourth in the Oaklawn Handicap on April 14th. Last time out was a pedestrian fifth in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special Stakes on May 18th. Before the Donn was a second in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct in November and a win in the Firethorn Stakes at Belmont in October.

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Mucho Macho Man - has been very impressive in 2012 - a win at the Florida Sunshine Millions Stakes on January 28th preceded a very good win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Handicap on March 10th. Last time out was a respectable third in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4th. Last year's third place finisher in the Kentucky Derby is a multiple stakes winner who appears to be peaking right now. The Katherine Ritvo colt has five wins, three seconds and four third place finishes in 15 career starts.

Endorsement - was an expected Kentucky Derby starter as a three year old before injury halted that dream. Endorsement came back in a big way however - a win in the Grade 3 Texas Mile followed a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream on February 2nd. Last time out was an OK third in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. He has now placed in every career start (9) but one - a seventh in his career debut.

Trickmeister - Trickmeister is an intriguing entry into the Suburban - undefeated in seven career starts - the Grade 1 Donn Handicap in which he finished seventh being his only blemish. Last time out Trickmeister bounced back from that seventh and won the Vanlandingham Stakes here on May 17th.

Buffum - Has won two of his last three starts - both Allowance races. He does have graded stakes experience in his seven race career however - a fifth in the Remsen in November 2010, a fifth in Dubai in February 2011 and a fourth in the Grade 3 Bay Shore in April last year.


2012 Suburban Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:06 PM.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Stay Thirsty J. Castellano T. Pletcher
7-2
2 Caixa Eletronica E. Castro T. Pletcher
7-2
3 Endorsement M. Garcia E. Harty
12-1
4 Buffum R. Maragh T. Albertrani
8-1
5 Hymn Book A. Garcia C. McGaughey III
6-1
6 Trickmeister R. Dominguez R. Dutrow, Jr.
6-1
7 Mucho Macho Man M. Smith K. Ritvo
4-1
8 To Honor and Serve J. Lezcano W. Mott
9-5