Westbound, the very promising, decisive Aquanita Stakes winner, and Ladie’s Pro, an equally clear-cut winner of the Belmont Oaks, will go head-to-head in the $125,000 Listed Belmont Classic over 2200m on Saturday as they both go in search of a second successive feature race win.
It is a case of a good gelding (Westbound) … a winner of five of his nine starts … locking horns with a good filly (Ladie’s Pro) … a winner of four of her eight starts.
They did clash two runs back in the Belmont Guineas over 1600m where wide draws and bumping into a good one in the form of Hot And High (who has only been beaten once in seven starts) complicated their chances.
They both finished unplaced that day, but were only separated by 0.40 lengths in fifth place (Ladie’s Pro) and seventh place (Westbound) respectively with Ladie’s Pro carrying 2kg less than her rival on the set weights scale. They will meet on the same terms on Saturday.
Following the Belmont Guineas, Westbound and Ladie’s Pro both increased the distance test … from 1600m to 2000m … but in different races, Westbound going to the Aquanita Stakes with Ladie’s Pro stepping out in the Belmont Oaks where they both showed their liking for the longer trip with winning performances.
On Saturday the distance test steps up another notch again … this time from 2000m to 2200m.
The race also continues a rivalry we have seen on the training front so often this season with Westbound being saddled by Michael Grantham and Ladie’s Pro racing out of the Grant and Alana Williams stable.
Clint Johnston-Porter rides Westbound. Willie Pike will partner Ladie’s Pro.
Team Williams has a second string to its bow in the Belmont Classic with Special Counsel also in the line-up.
Special Counsel finished second to Westbound in the Aquanita, but the fact that he was 2.72 lengths adrift of the Grantham-trained runner suggests he does have some ground to make up.
The same can be said of the Paul Jordan-trained Pony Up who finished second to Ladie’s Pro in the Belmont Oaks, coming home 2.90 lengths behind the Team Williams-trained runner.
The balance of the seven-horse field is made up of the Luke Fernie stable companions … Royal Guardian (a two-time winner from ten starts) and Savienne (a last-start maiden winner who also tried her luck in the Belmont Oaks – when still a maiden – where she finished well down the field) … and the Michael Lane-trained Autumn Gem (who finished five lengths behind Ladie’s Pro in the Oaks).
Ladie’s Pro is currently quoted as the $1.90 race favourite. Westbound is the $2.30 second favourite.
