Irish War Cry joins list of probable starters

Irish War Cry and Hollywood Handsome have joined a probable 12-horse field for the Belmont Stakes, which is still shaping up with four days to go until the last leg of the Triple Crown.

Irish War Cry will make his next start in the 1 1⁄2-mile Belmont on June 10. The colt finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby after prompting a fast pace and didn’t run in the Preakness.

NEW YORK » Irish War Cry and Hollywood Handsome have joined a probable 12-horse field for the Belmont Stakes, which is still shaping up with a week to go until the last leg of the Triple Crown.

Trainer Graham Motion said Sunday that Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry will make his next start in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont on June 10. The colt finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby after prompting a fast pace and didn’t run in the Preakness.

Hollywood Handsome will make his Triple Crown debut in the Belmont. The colt finished fifth in the Illinois Derby and won an allowance race at his home base of Churchill Downs three weeks later. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Hollywood Handsome is already at Belmont Park, where he completed his last serious workout on Friday.

Joining them as probable starters in the $1.5 million race are: Classic Empire, Japan-based Epicharis, J Boys Echo, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, Multiplier, Patch, Senior Investment, Tapwrit and Twisted Tom.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday he has a spot on a New York-bound plane booked for Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley, but no decision has yet been made whether the Southern California-based horse will run.

Arrogate may return in San Diego Handicap

DEL MAR » Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate is likely to return to racing after a fourmonth break in the San Diego Handicap on July 22 at Del Mar.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Monday he’ll bring Arrogate to Del Mar for the summer. The 4-year-old colt could make three consecutive starts at the seaside track north of San Diego.

After the San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, Arrogate could run in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 19 and the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4. The Pacific Classic and BC Classic are both 1 ¼-mile races.

Del Mar officials have increased the purse for the San Diego Handicap to $300,000 if Arrogate runs in the Grade 2 race. Otherwise, the purse would be $200,000.

Arrogate has won seven straight races and earned a North American record of $17,084,600. The gray colt has been off since winning in Dubai on March 25.

He missed last year’s Triple Crown series because of injury. After winning a minor race at Del Mar last August, Arrogate won the Travers at Saratoga, the BC Classic at Santa Anita, the $12 million Pegasus Cup at Gulfstream and the Dubai World Cup.

Del Mar’s summer meet opens July 19.