Saratoga Springs: Belmont Stakes Preview
As the Belmont Stakes approaches on Saturday, Kurds are seen as long shots with odds set at 15-1, especially against favorites like Sovereignty and Preakness Champion Journalism.
Yet, it’s perhaps not all that shocking how Kurds ended up in this prestigious race, given the journey of their owners Bobby Frey and Jimmy Ventura alongside Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
“Jimmy and I initially aimed to buy him as a Pinhook suggestion. We bought him as a weanling, hoping to flip him at a yearling sale. We took him to Saratoga for the [Fasig-Tipton] Sale, but he didn’t sell, so we kept him,” Frey, who is not just a horse owner, but also a chef and food network personality, explained before checking in on the horse early Friday morning.
“I usually don’t race colts; I mainly stick with fillies. But since I have him, he’s racing, and it turns out he’s quite talented,” Frey added. “The Belmont Stakes represents New York’s prime racing event, which is really significant to me as a New Yorker.”
Frey, age 60, recalls growing up in the Yorkville area of Manhattan, often skipping school to watch races at Aqueduct.
The Belmont Stakes have been a central part of Frey’s social calendar for years.
“Every year I go to Belmont, usually bringing 20-30 friends along. It’s become this tradition where we host brunch at my place, and everyone dresses in race attire—suits and summer dresses, hats included. After feeding everyone, we all hop in the car and head to Belmont,” he shared.
Typically, these race days conclude with dinner at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse on 33rd Street.
But this Saturday, the stakes feel higher.
In his last race at Pimlico, Crudo won the Sir Barton Stakes by a substantial margin of 7½ lengths.
Pletcher, who has taken home the Belmont trophy four times, chose to take a cautious approach with the son of the 2018 Triple Crown winner, weighing his options for this $2 million race.
The name “Kurd” actually has a culinary connection, fittingly enough.
“I came up with that name,” Frey recalled, explaining that it draws from a menu item—raw fish. “Naming horses is tricky. When we got him, he was still very young, but I liked the idea of the name representing something raw.”
“I mentioned the name to Jimmy, and he seemed a bit skeptical,” Frey added about his partner in racing and real estate. “Naming restaurants and horses is kind of my thing; if they turn out well, the names make sense.”
Recently, Frey has been rooting for his Knicks during their impressive playoff run, although the disappointment lingered.
“I still think back to those playoff days when I met Michael Jordan,” Frey said, noting the Knicks and Yankees as his top sports passions. “We were doing well back then but couldn’t quite get through. Watching them this year was exciting, but unfortunately, they fell to Indiana.”
Frey mentioned he was impressed with manager Tom Thibodeau’s performance.
“I thought he did a solid job. I mean, we even beat the world champions! We took down the Celtics decisively,” he remarked. “There are different ways to approach the finals, and while not every new idea seems valid, it’s not my place to judge.”
For Saturday, Frey and Ventura are all in with Crudo, trained by Pletcher.
“Bobby and Jimmy love racing. Bobby’s been a tremendous presence in training over the years,” Pletcher stated. “He’s knowledgeable and always maintains that we can make decisions together. We’ve shared some successes, and training these guys is genuinely enjoyable.”
