Surface switch in Chelsey Flower fine for English Soul

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Ray Handal believes English Soul has the pedigree and talent to be a stakes winner on the turf. But as far as Sunday’s $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes goes, Handal wouldn’t mind if the weather forecast proves accurate and it rains, forcing management to transfer the one-mile turf race to the dirt.

Sunday is closing day of the 36-day Belmont fall meet, so it might have to rain pretty hard to force the Chelsey Flower to the dirt. The Chelsey Flower, for 2-year-old fillies, shares billing with the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie for filly and mare sprinters on dirt on the nine-race program.

English Soul, a daughter of English Channel, finished second in her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Saratoga. She set rapid early fractions only to be run down by Saratoga Treasure. English Soul came back Oct. 9 and was scheduled to run in a seven-furlong turf race. But rain that day forced the races to the dirt ,and English Soul splashed her way to a 14 1/4-length maiden score.

“I’d love to see her against stakes company on the turf, but I would be lying if I didn’t say we’ll be doing a little rain dance,” said Handal, who trains English Soul for Zilla Racing. “The reason I went to the grass is because she’s got such a great pedigree for it.”

English Soul drew post 4 and will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Sixteen horses were entered for the Chelsey Flower (race 3), but the field would be limited to 12 on turf with the rail out 27 feet.

Trainer Christophe Clement entered three horses in the race, though Raucous and Oh Zap both have Joe Bravo named, meaning one of them must scratch. The best of his trio, however, is Golden Orb, who was a sharp debut winner at Saratoga but finished sixth in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine. Golden Orb was stuck behind horses in upper stretch, and when able to get room did not offer a closing kick.

Clement said Golden Orb would run only on firm turf. He said Raucous would likely run on dirt and Oh Zap, a debut winner at Monmouth, would be his likely starter on soft turf.

Wise Gal, a daughter of Einstein, has gone 2 for 2 at Laurel, both for trainer Dove Hougton. Wise Gal won the Selima Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths.

Fairy Link, a daughter of Data Link trained by Peter Pugh, won a one-mile maiden race here Sept. 27 and has since come back with two solid works. The horse she beat in her maiden win, Data Dependent, came back to win her next start.

Completing the field are March X Press, winner of the Bolton Landing in Saratoga and fourth in the Natalma, Mrs. Ramona G, Radiant Beauty, Night Time Lady, Jody’s Song, Go Noni Go, Bramble Queen, Drama Run, and Oldfashioned Style.

Lucy N Ethel seeks rebound

In the Pumpkin Pie Stakes (race 8), Lucy N Ethel gets some much-needed class relief in hopes of regaining her graded-stakes-winning form of a year ago.

Lucy N Ethel won her first three starts, including the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream and Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga. She ended her 3-year-old season with a last-place finish in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.

In her only start this year, and only one for trainer Todd Pletcher, Lucy N Ethel finished last in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap.

“I’m hoping she needed the race off a long layoff,” Pletcher said. “She broke well, put herself in a good spot, and just flattened out. She’s come back with some pretty solid breezes, so I’m hoping having a race and her subsequent breezes move her forward.”

Lucy N Ethel may have to deal with some pace pressure from Bustin Out or Tiffany Case. A pace battle could set things up for Indulgent, Cursor, or Fusaichi Red.