Vino Rosso

Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable Jockey: John Velaquez Record: 6-3-0-1

STRENGTHS: He won a major prep for the Kentucky Derby in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Vino Rosso ran respectably in the Derby, splitting the field and finishing 10 1/2 lengths behind Justify after breaking from post 18 and racing over a wet track for the first time. Vino Rosso will have something of a home-court advantage Saturday, even though he hasn’t raced at Belmont Park. Vino Rosso is stabled locally and has worked over the main track for connections, who are regulars at Belmont. Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez each has won two editions of the Belmont Stakes, teaming together for one of those victories, in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches. Repole Stable was second in the 2011 Belmont Stakes with Stay Thirsty, and the New York-based St. Elias Stable co-owned Always Dreaming, winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby.

WEAKNESSES: He’s not yet cracked triple digits on the Beyer Speed Figure scale, and his last number, an 88 for the Kentucky Derby, lags 15 points behind what Justify earned in the race and nine points below what Justify earned in his last start, the Preakness. Vino Rosso’s lone off-the-board finish came in the slop, and an early forecast called for rain Saturday.

BETTING VALUE: He figures to go off at 10-1 or higher and is one to use underneath in the exotics because he’s consistent – he’s won half of his six starts – and he’s had success on a laboring track at Tampa Bay Downs. – Mary Rampellini

SIRE: Curlin kept alive his streak of siring a classic winner or classic-placed runner from each of his first six crops when champion Good Magic finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Tenfold was a close third in the Preakness Stakes. Curlin himself finished a close second to the champion filly Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes and has a solid record in the longest American classic. Palace Malice emerged from his first crop to win the 2013 Belmont; Keen Ice was third behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015; and Irish War Cry was second last year.

DAM: Mythical Bride, by Street Cry and out of a stakes-winning daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, scored her only win at a mile. The mare’s classy female family has displayed highend ability both routing and sprinting. Mythical Bride is a halfsister to the long-winded multiple graded stakes winner Commissioner, who finished second by a head to Tonalist in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. She also is a half-sister to graded stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Laugh Track.

OUTLOOK: With Curlin, Touch Gold, and Commissioner all appearing on his page, Vino Rosso comes to the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont Stakes well equipped for the challenge. – Nicole Russo