Today at Belmont
Foolish Pleasure covers the most promising first-time starters in the second, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special for juvenile fillies. Ambitiously spotted is Suffolk Downs-based Jewel of Rockport, a Rockport Harbor baby out of Box of Jewels, who’s a half-sibling to Golden Ballet, dam of Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer. Precocious himself, Rockport Harbor’s offspring have been slow to find the winner’s circle: None of the freshman sire’s first 11 runners have done better than second in 15 starts. With her unexceptional recent works, Jewel of Rockport, 20-1 on the morning line, doesn’t figure to be the first winner for her sire, but, depending on how she does today, could be one to watch for in local juvenile races this summer.
Results: Sixth for Jewel of Rockport, “never a factor,” but surely Afaaf, a $300,000 Keeneland purchase and half-sibling to stakes winner Rule, was more disappointing to her connections after tiring and finishing fourth as the 2-1 second favorite. Stopspendingmaria, a Montbrook filly making her second career start for trainer Todd Pletcher, won by hustling early and drawing away in the stretch, finishing seven lengths ahead Networking, who was another nine lengths ahead of third place finisher Hey Valentina.
