Belmont Park: Preach Tome Daddy taking nice cutbacks

ELMONT, N.Y. – Dropping in class and shortening up in distance could be the ingredients for a bounce-back effort from Preach Tome Daddy when she faces 10 fillies and mares in Thursday’s $72,000 feature at Belmont Park.

The first-level allowance race is scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener Turf course. Last out, Preach Tome Daddy finished fifth in the Grade 2 Sands Point at 1 1/16 miles.

In the Sands Point, Preach Tome Daddy found herself on the lead under Julien Leparoux through the early fractions, something trainer John Kimmel was not expecting.

“I never anticipated her being on the lead, but it became such a dawdling pace and she got lost out there in front,” Kimmel said. “He was trying to get her back, and the two were working against each other for three-sixteenths of a mile.”

Kimmel also noted that Preach Tome Daddy had missed some training time before the Sands Point after getting kicked by her stable pony coming off the track on May 6. She went nearly three weeks without a workout.

“She might have been short of exercise going into that race,” Kimmel said.

In cutting back to seven furlongs, Kimmel is hoping for some pace to develop in front of Preach Tome Daddy, who came from 6 1/2 lengths back to win a maiden race at Aqueduct in April.

Strategic Missile, who won a seven-furlong statebred race on the front end, Considerate and Sheza Heartbreaker all have shown an affinity for racing on the lead.

While Kimmel is hoping for a hot pace, he is concerned about the hot weather that is forecast for Thursday. The temperature could reach the mid 90’s.

“If she can deal with the hot weather that’s coming she should be very competitive,” Kimmel said. Leparoux rides from post 5.

Ciguaraya, Anna Sophia, and Mystic City are threats to Preach Tome Daddy.

Ciguaraya drops from the Calder Oaks – where she finished 10th – to this allowance level, where she was beaten less than a length on April 1 at Gulfstream. More importantly, she switches barns and makes her first start for trainer Chad Brown, who strikes at a 31-percent rate with new acquisitions. Javier Castellano rides.

Anna Sophia also cuts back in distance off a fourth-place finish in the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico on May 18.

Mystic City has recorded all three of her career wins over the Belmont turf course. Trainer Anthony Ferraro, based at Finger Lakes, is 3 for 5 at this meet.

Sounds of the City, already beaten twice at this meet, won a six-furlong maiden race sprinting over Belmont’s turf course last October. Ramon Dominguez rides for Alan Goldberg.