True North Stakes

Fleet-footed champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) was fittingly hammered down to 1-5 favoritism against an overmatched field in Belmont's GII True North S. Friday and he more than ran to that backing with a dominant victory. Hustling up to take his preferred position at the head of affairs, Jackie's Warrior was confronted by 12-1 shot Mr Phil (Mr Speaker), but he easily shook that foe off as the opening quarter went up in :22.83. Loping along on a loose rein under Joel Rosario, the bay clocked a half-mile in :45.52....

Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff (Speightstown), fresh off a dramatic first Grade I victory in the May 1 Churchill Downs S., will be aiming for a third straight win when he goes postward in the GII True North S. at Belmont Park Friday. The 7-year-old gelding won the GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland Apr. 3 before outbattling Lexitonian (Speightstown) and Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) in a blanket finish in the Churchill Downs. He is cutting back from seven furlongs to 6 1/2 furlongs for the True North. "It was...