Belmont Runners Take on Track Records

  By John Scheinman | October 22, 2009
 


Birdrun
 
photo by Adam Coglianese  
   

One track record was tied and another broken on a beautiful fall day of racing Wednesday at Belmont Park.

In the first race, Repole Stable’s Super Shape took charge from the start and then shook off a challenge in the stretch from Todd Got Even to draw off by 2¾ lengths and equal the Belmont Park 6½-furlong main track record of 1:14.46.

The 5-year-old Argentina-bred son of American Chance tied the mark set by multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Bear Fan in the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap in 2004.

Two races later, Oxbow Racing’s chestnut 3-year-old Birdrun blew away a first-level allowance field by 8¼ lengths and broke the 11-year-old record for 1 1/16 miles on the main track set by Rock and Roll, finishing in a time of 1:39.38. The old mark was 1:39.51.

Under first-time rider Javier Castellano, Super Shape ran the first half-mile in 45.40, then sped the final 2½ furlongs in 29.06.

“I never rode that horse before. I was very impressed,” Castellano said. “He warmed up good in the post parade. [Trainer] Bruce [Levine] said his best races are on the lead, and he said, ‘Let’s put him there and see what happens.’”

Although predominantly competing in claiming races, Super Shape has run fast in the past, including a 1:09 for six furlongs on June 14 at Belmont Park. He has now won six of 15 starts and earned $137,847.

Birdrun, a son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, has developed into a talented prospect this fall for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. After breaking his maiden by 10¼ lengths in July at Saratoga, he turned in two strong second-place runs in allowance races before breaking through Wednesday under jockey Ramon Dominguez.

Birdrun pressed the fast pace set by Precious Package before taking over on the turn and running away to his track-record-setting score.

The colt has now won two of seven lifetime starts and earned $66,879.