Belmont Stakes: Betting field at 14

The Belmont Stakes betting field with the addition of Always in a Tiz, ninth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in his last start, is being pointed to the $1 million Belmont Stakes here on June 8, part-owner and New York Racing Association board member Anthony Bonomo said Friday.

“Truthfully, I think the horse has the ability to get the distance,” Anthony Bonomo said, referring to the 1 1/2 miles. “He’s not as seasoned as some of those other horses are right now but as far as ability goes he can run and do well in the Belmont.”

Bonomo, who races under the moniker Brooklyn Boyz Stables, owns Always in a Tiz with his wife, Mary Ellen, who races under the MeB Racing Stables banner. Last year they finished fifth in the Belmont with Five Sixteen.

Always in a Tiz, trained by Dominick Schettino, will be ridden by David Cohen in the Belmont, Bonomo said. Cohen has been working the horse, including on Wednesday when the colt went five furlongs in 1:01.39 in company over the main track.

Bonomo said that Always in a Tiz will have another work next week, and after that a final determination will be made, but “at this point in time we’re aiming towards running.”

Always in Tiz, a son of Tiznow, won his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga last Sept. 3, a race in which Revolutionary finished third. Revolutionary won the Withers and Louisiana Derby before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.

Always in a Tiz finished second to Vyjack in the Traskwood Stakes at Aqueduct in December and finished third, beaten a neck by Will Take Charge in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.

Things unraveled for Always in a Tiz thereafter. He finished fifth in the Grade 3 Southwest, a race from which he emerged with a lung infection. Always in a Tiz skipped the Rebel after an unsatisfactory workout before returning to New York for the Wood Memorial.

Equipped with blinkers for the first time, Always in a Tiz was never a factor in the Wood, finishing ninth, beaten 14 3/4 lengths.

The addition of Always in a Tiz brings the list of possible Belmont Stakes starters to 14.

The other definite runners include Oxbow, Will Take Charge, Code West, Freedom Child, Giant Finish, Golden Soul, Revolutionary, Overanalyze, and Palace Malice. Kentucky Derby winner Orb and the filly Unlimited Budget are probable, while Micromanage and Midnight Taboo are possible.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to work all six of his potential Belmont Stakes starters on Sunday, weather permitting.