A Prelude to Belmont

Before they try to win Saturday’s Belmont Stakes with Sunday Break, jockey Gary Stevens and trainer Neil Drysdale will go for another Grade I victory today at Belmont Park.

Bella Bellucci, who has the reputation of being the country’s top 3-year-old filly even though she has yet to face any of the top members of her class in 2002, will face You and four others in the $250,000 Acorn. Bella Bellucci will break from post five for the one-mile Acorn.

Owned by Michael Tabor, the gray daughter of French Deputy has won four of five. She missed the Kentucky Oaks due to a minor setback and will be running in her first Grade I since she was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 27.

Owned by Ed Gann and trained by Bobby Frankel, who will team in the Belmont with the disappointing Medaglia d’Oro, You is far more accomplished than the likely favorite. She has won five of nine and has won three Grade I races--the Frizette at Belmont Park and the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita.

The other four entrants are Dust Me Off, Willa On The Move, Proper Gamble and Nonsuch Bay.

Race of the day: Stakes-winning mares Go Go and Kalookan Queen will renew their rivalry in the $100,000 Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Jerry Bailey. Almost annually the country’s leading rider, Bailey began the Belmont Park meet with 20 wins from his first 57 mounts.

Who’s not: The field in tonight’s fifth at Hollywood Park. The nine original entrants in the $8,000 claimer are a combined three for 46 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using GL’s Gold Strike, Cat Blade and Confess in the fifth; Pride Of Cats, Solar Way, Villa Amalfi and Seeingisbelieving in the sixth; singling Go Go in the seventh and using Call Me Again and Orange ‘Em in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/84. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.20/$472.20. Total money bet: $566.