Two-Horse Race for Suburban

Six horses are entered in today’s $500,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, but only two really matter.

The Grade II, which will be run for the 114th time, boils down to Behrens and Lemon Drop Kid with J.R. Holmes, Wild Imagination, Almutawakel and Lager filling out the field.

Idle since finishing second to the brilliant Dubai Millennium in the Dubai World Cup on March 25, Behrens figures to be a slight favorite over Lemon Drop Kid, who romped to a 7 1/4-length win in the Brooklyn Handicap in his last start June 11.

Trained by H. James Bond for owners William Clifton and Rudlein Stable, Behrens is the defending champion in the Suburban, one of his three victories at Belmont Park. A winner of nine of 23 lifetime, the 6-year-old can push his career earnings past $4.5 million with a win this afternoon. Jorge Chavez will again ride Behrens, who will break from the rail, directly inside Lemon Drop Kid.

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Pulled up in the Charlie Whittingham Memorial Handicap when last seen May 29, Dark Moondancer is the 9-5 favorite against only five opponents in the $150,000 American Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

Dark Moondancer resumed training shortly after the Whittingham and has five recorded drills for the American. Chris McCarron will again ride for trainer Ron McAnally, but the distance (1 1/8 miles) is certainly not his best. His last six wins came at 1 1/4 miles or longer.

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Hoping to rebound from recent failures, Silverbulletday and Chilukki have shipped to Monmouth Park to avoid the top guns in their respective divisions and will be in action today.

A loser of four of her last five and trounced by Heritage Of Gold in her last two starts, Silverbulletday will be heavily-favored to win the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup Handicap against the likes of Bella Chiarra, Lu Ravi, Tap To Music and Country Hideaway.

Chilukki, the 2-year-old Eclipse champion last year, has proved she doesn’t want to run too far, so she is back sprinting in the $75,000 Regret Stakes.

Corey Nakatani will ride both Silverbulletday and Chilukki for trainer Bob Baffert, who won the $250,000 Iowa Derby on Monday at Prairie Meadows with 1-5 favorite Captain Steve.

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Don’t look for Cover Gal to leave California again any time soon.

Shipped to Belmont Park for Monday’s $150,000 Prioress Stakes, the California-bred filly finished last as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade II race.

Never worse than second in eight previous starts for trainer Lance Stokes, the 3-year-old daughter of Falstaff was outrun for the early lead and was all done by the time the field reached the quarter pole.

Horse Racing Notes

Blueprint, who recently was purchased in Europe from Queen Elizabeth by owners Bill Bianco and David Shimmon, may join the field for Sunday’s $1-million Sempra Energy Hollywood Gold Cup. Third in a Group II on the grass at Royal Ascot on June 23, Blueprint won two of three on the dirt in England. If the son of Generous starts Sunday, he will be ridden by Chris McCarron.