Giant Finish on board for Belmont Stakes

Trainer Tony Dutrow didn’t see eye to eye with Andrew Cohen when the owner-breeder opted to start Giant Finish in the Kentucky Derby earlier this month.

Dutrow stayed in New York instead of saddling up the Frost Giant colt at Churchill Downs.  “Obviously, I honoured Andrew’s decision,” he said at the time.  “And I was surprised when Giant Finish beat half the field in the Run for the Roses.”

Giant Finish has been confirmed as a starter in the G1 Belmont Stakes and Dutrow said he’s definitely on board this time.  “The horse gave us a great effort under the circumstances in the Derby,” he said this week.  “I respect him getting a chance in the Belmont.”

He is by incoming Yarradale Stud shuttler Frost Giant who won the 2008 Suburban at Belmont when it was a Group 1 event over 2000m.  “I’m not making any predictions,” Dutrow added.  “But I do think the mile and a half (2400m) will be good for our horse.”

Giant Finish (3c Frost Giant – Apocalyptic by Hickman Creek) had raced five times leading up to the Kentucky Derby for two wins at Aqueduct and minors in the LR John Battaglia Memorial and G3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown and is scheduled for June 8.

Frost Giant will stand his first southern season at Yarradale Stud for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee this year.  A Group 1 winning son of Giant’s Causeway, he was New York’s Champion freshman sire last year.