Suburban Handicap 2011 at Belmont Park – Rodman, Colizeo, Icabad Crane favourites
The Suburban Handicap kicks off with six hot contenders, who are to compete amongst each other, for the 126th running of the Suburban Handicap.
The Grade 2 racing event has a purse of about $300,000. The event is to take place on July 2, 2011 at Belmont Park. All the horses are to carry the same weight, which is 115 pounds.
Suburban Handicap this year offers a very entertaining spectacle as not one particular favourite. There is Colizeo, the son of Distorted Humor, who intends to pick up his first graded stakes win of the season.
Then there is Rodman, the son of Malibu Moon, who comes from being runner-up to Tizway, in the Metropolitan Handicap held on May 30, 2011. There is also another intriguing candidate by the name of Icebad Crane, who finished a close third, in the Grade 3 William Donald Schaefer Memorial held on May 21, 2011.
The Suburban Handicap seems to have a field where one absolute winner cannot be pointed out.
However, some Equestrian experts consider Rodman to be the one contestant, who could outshine the others. Rodman had not raced at the age of five. He could not make it in 2010 because of a foot injury and a bout of colic.
The Suburban Handicap may be a chance for the six year old chestnut colt to make his mark in his fourth start of the year. His reins will be held by Javier Castellano. Rodman is saddled by Mike Hushion.
Rodman returned to action in February when he was runner up in his six furlong attempt at the Aqueduct Race Track. And on May 30, 2011, he made another start in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap where he finished 2 ¾ lengths behind Tizway.
His marvellous performance in the race earned him a career best 108 BEYER Speed figure.
Hushion commented on this by saying:
“When they run that kind of a Beyer, ‘bouncing’ is always a concern. It was a very good effort. There were a couple of jumps where it looked as if he was going to get to the winner, but he never came back”.
Rodman is also the winner of the 2009 Grade 3 Queens County for Barry Schwartz. He has been assigned as 2-1 on the morning line.
Speaking of Colizeo, the four year old brown colt receives training from Todd Pletcher. Colizeo scored his lone win in October 2010 in the Cozzene Stakes. Colizeo will be making his second start at the Belmont Park, he races for Gerard and Alain. He will be breaking from post 2 and Cornelio Velasquez will be holding his reins.
Similarly, Icabad Crane, who receives conditioning from, Graham Motion, is regarded to be a very good choice for the Suburban Handicap.
His trainer said:
“This is a logical step for him – the timing of this race is very good, and it’s the same distance and at the same track as the Empire Classic, where he jumped up at the start and had to close from last. He’s mellowed a bit with age, and he’s just a neat horse to be around”.
Rajiv Maragh will be holding the reins for Icabad Crane. He has been assigned as the 9-2 morning line favourite and will break from post 4.
Horse racing fans need to keep their fingers crossed for the Suburban Handicap.
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