Adam Coglianese Photo

New York-bred Senbei rallies to win G3 Belmont Turf Sprint

by Brian Bohl

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski’s Senbei rallied in the stretch, overtaking three challengers from the far outside in surging to the wire a 1 1/4-length winner in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint at Belmont at the Big A.

Senbei, bred in New York by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, captured the six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, and finished on the board for the fourth time in six starts on the turf since trainer Christophe Clement elected to move him off the main track.

Senbei, under jockey Manny Franco, was content to sit in fifth position as Determined Kingdom slightly outpaced 2-1 favorite Nothing Better to lead the eight-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.10 seconds and the half in 44.37 over the firm footing.

Out of the turn, Nothing Better made a move to Determined Kingdom’s outside. But Senbei, who had won multiple stakes on dirt, including the 2021 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, New York Breeders’ Futurity and the Notebook – along with the 2022 Gold Fever – earned the distinction of being a multi-surface stakes-winner, charging from the far outside to overtake Alogon, Determined Kingdom and Nothing Better, completing the course in 1:07.74.

Nothing Better held off Alogon by a half-length for runner-up honors while Son of a Birch came in fourth. Determined Kingdom, Mischievous Angel, Axthelm and Maya Prince completed the order of finish. Outlaw Kid, who is entered in the Grade 2 Nearctic today at Woodbine, was scratched, along with main-track only entrant Prince of Jericho.

“I had a great trip," Franco said. “My horse broke OK and those three horses went to the lead and I just stayed behind them. He was traveling nice and on the bridle. When I hit the clear at the quarter pole, I have to give credit to the horses in front because they were tough to go by, but my horse did it. They didn’t come back at all, but my horse ran them down.

“He gave me a nice turn of foot,” Franco added. “When I hit the clear, he just explodes.”

Senbei returned $10 on a $2 win bet, improving his career earnings to $640,000. Overall, the 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding has won five stakes and moved his career ledger to 7-2-1 in 17 starts.

“It worked out perfect,” Clement said. “It was a great ride by Manny - patient, saved ground and exploded in the stretch. Manny rode him with a lot of confidence.

“Senbei is a good horse,” Clement continued. “As a young horse, he was very good on dirt - he lost his form a bit on dirt and the grass brought him back. He's been running very well on grass - maybe more on firmer turf than softer turf. He's not always lucky. In turf racing, you need a bit of racing luck but today he was very impressive.”

Nothing Better finished second in a stakes race for the third consecutive time following the Select in August at Monmouth Park and the Da Hoss in September at Colonial Downs.

“My horse is very fast, a sprinter,” said Nothing Better jockey Jorge Ruiz. “[Determined Kingdom] put too much pressure on my horse. The horse broke sharp and went to the lead, but it’s too much pressure. When he came up to me, we were going too fast.”

Clement said the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on November 2 at Del Mar would be the ideal long term spot if possible, but the Listed six-furlong $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship on November 9 could also be a possible target.

“I've got Big Invasion as well for the same owners. I have to decide if they both stay here or do we ship one of them,” Clement said. “I don't know if we can get in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint or if either of them has done enough to get there. I'll need to think about it and make a plan."

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame in Race 2; the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo in Race 6; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Matron in Race 8. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.