Left Bank Dies After Surgery

Left Bank, whose final start was his best, died this week of complications after having a third surgery for colic.

Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by Todd Pletcher, the 5-year-old French Deputy horse first had surgery in August, seven days after winning the Whitney Handicap.

Left Bank, who was pointed toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic, had 14 victories in 24 starts and earnings of just over $1.4 million.

Pletcher has entrants in four of the nine races at Belmont today. In the first, a 2-year-old maiden race for New York-breds at one mile on the grass, Pletcher will be represented by Dazzling Spirit, who is adding blinkers, then he has Distant Fantasy in the fourth, the entry of Defiant Beauty and Comeback To Me in the sixth and Whitewashed in the seventh. A 3-year-old Broad Brush filly, Whitewashed probably is Pletcher’s best chance to win.

Race of the day: A field of 10 will get together in Oak Tree’s seventh, a contentious turf affair and the penultimate leg of a pick six with a carryover of $82,254.

Who’s hot: Gary Stevens. The jockey got off to a five-for-23 start at Oak Tree and picked up two more wins Wednesday with favored Tizalovelylady in the second and 6-1 shot Giovannetti in the seventh.

Who’s not: Tyler Baze. Near the top of the standings at Fairplex Park, Baze lost with his first 20 mounts at Oak Tree before winning with 5-1 shot Fleetstreet Dancer on Wednesday.

Exotically speaking: A trifecta in the sixth keying Corona Classic in the sixth on top with Reluctant Hero, Ima Mile High Guy and Mr Motion in the two hole and all in the third spot.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/15. Money: Previous day/meet total: $8.40/$65.40. Total money bet: $104.