British globetrotter Running Stag warmed up for the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs on June 3rd by winning a nine-furlong allowance race at Belmont Park on Wednesday.
The Philip Mitchell-trained six-year-old, ridden by Shane Sellers, beat Early Warning and Wild Imagination and may meet those rivals again in the Massachusetts Handicap, a race in which he finished second last year.
"Shane never really had to ask much of him," said Mitchell. "He just lengthened stride and took off. He ran on his own power."
Last year's winner Behrens is among the 23 nominees for this year's race at Suffolk Downs.
"We were thinking of the Stephen Foster at Churchill but when it comes down to it, this really seems like the right spot at the right time for Behrens," said trainer James Bond.
Others nominated for the nine-furlong contest include 1999 Dubai World Cup winner Almutawakel, Black Cash, Ecton Park, Lemon Drop Kid, and Vision and Verse.
Mitchell's Mister Tricky (Mike Smith) is set to run in a US54,000 six-furlong contest at Belmont Park on Friday.
