Belmont Park: Ullapool takes on elders following claim

Tom Keyser

Ullapool will take on older fillies and mares Friday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Eddie Kenneally has had a successful Belmont meet both on the track and at the claim box.

Through the first 33 days of the meet, Kenneally has 6 wins and 4 seconds from 18 starters. On May 24, Kenneally won a four-way shake to claim Ullapool, a 3-year-old filly, for $25,000. In the race from which she was claimed, Ullapool cruised to an eight-length win while on the lead.

Friday, Kenneally will send out Ullapool in a $55,000 starter/optional claimer going seven furlongs that serves as the featured event on Belmont Park’s nine-race card.

Ullapool, the only 3-year-old in a field of eight, looms the main speed of the race. She will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 6.

“I like her post,” Kenneally said. “On paper, she looks like she’ll give the rider plenty of options. There’s not a whole lot of speed in the race, so it could unfold that way.”

Ullapool is 2 for 2 at Belmont, having won a five-furlong maiden race last July when trained by Wesley Ward and a 6 1/2-furlong claimer last out. The horse she beat last out, Karma Police, came back to win a New York-bred allowance race.

Lily Lynn is 3 for 3 in New York. After an unproductive winter at Gulfstream, Lily Lynn has gone 2 for 2 in New York. Though she beat cheaper than she meets here, Lily Lynn has won both of her starts since trainer Mark Hennig added blinkers to her equipment.

“Getting her back on the dirt and shortening up has helped as much as anything,” said Hennig, noting that Lily Lynn made two starts on turf at Gulfstream. “She definitely likes Belmont. Blinkers have helped as has the drop in class. It’s hard to say which one has had the most impact.”

Rosie Napravnik, aboard Lily Lynn’s last two victories, rides her again from post 5.

Trainer Chris Englehart has three entered in this spot. Royal Sighting and Miss Woods are coupled – one will scratch because Rajiv Maragh is named on both – while Cherokee Trick is uncoupled.

Cherokee Trick is 10 for 32, but has lost her last 12 starts dating back to March 6, 2011. Jose Lezcano rides.

Royal Sighting would be making her first start off the claim for Englehart. He took her for $20,000 on May 26. Miss Woods, whom Englehart took for $15,000 in February, has not run since finishing last in a spot similar to this on March 2.

Bid a Moon, the potential other speed in the field; Princess Mara, who has won three of five lifetime starts; and Hard Life, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and ridden by Ramon Dominguez; complete the field.