Thu Jun 28 20:45:35 2007

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Suburban Handicap, minus Invasor, draws 12

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Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - With defending champ Invasor now retired, the handicap division has become wide open. However, Saturday's $400,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park has attracted just six older thoroughbreds for the 1 1/4 mile race.

Met Mile winner Corinthian is the horse to beat in the Suburban. Owned by Centennial Farms, the four-year-old will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux from the four hole.

Corinthian has earned $694,273 in his career with five wins in nine lifetime starts. A win would make Corinthian the first horse since In Excess in 1991 to win both the Met Mile and Suburban in the same year.

Corinthian's trainer Jimmy Jerkens once again will go head-to-head with his father Allen. The elder Jerkens sends out Political Force on Saturday.

In the Met Mile, Corinthian posted a 3/4-length triumph over Political Force.

Political Force will start from the inside post with Cornelio Velasquez riding for woner Joseph Allen.

Breaking from post two will be Hesanoldsalt with Eibar Coa. Trained by Nick Zito, Hesanoldsalt will attempt to snap a five race streak of finishing second.

This year he has been the runner-up to Invasor in the Donn Handicap, beaten a neck by Corinthian in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, lost by a head to Flashy Bull in the William Donald Schaefer, and was second to Papi Chullo in the Birdstone Stakes.

Rounding out the field for the Suburban in post position order are Malibu Moonshine, Fairbanks and Evening Attire.

Post-time for the race is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. (et).