3-year-olds the ones to beat in turf allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – It appears as if youth will be served in Friday’s $65,000 allowance feature for New York-bred fillies and mares, with the 3-year-olds Lucky Nancy E. and Chrysolite looking like the main protagonists in the one-mile turf race.

The race, limited to 10 starters, drew 12 entrants, with two horses relegated to the also-eligible list.

Chrysolite, a daughter of Freud trained by David Donk, is coming off a nose loss at this same condition on Sept. 12 going 1 1/16 miles. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 80. Prior to that, Chrysolite won a first-level allowance race at Saratoga that was rained off the turf and run on the main track.

“She’s probably a much better horse on the grass than the dirt – her numbers verify that,” Donk said. “She’s kind of improving, maturing a bit. I always liked her a little bit.”

John Velazquez has been aboard Chrysolite in her last three starts, but he is riding at Keeneland on Friday. Jose Ortiz picks up the mount on Chrysolite from post 10.

Donk also will saddle the 4-year-old Adriatic Dream, who is a stone-cold closer and who is entered for the optional claiming tag of $40,000.

Lucky Nancy E. finished fifth in the same race in which Chrysolite was second. She opened up a clear advantage early but could not hold it. The time before that, Lucky Nancy E. finished last in the Fleet Indian Stakes after her saddle slipped.

“She didn’t relax last time,” trainer Jim Ryerson said.

Lucky Nancy E may have to avoid dueling with Princess Mara early.

“We can lay off of it,” Ryerson said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Key contenders

Chrysolite (Last 3 Beyers: 80-66-59)

◗ She finished second to Run to Mama in her last start and, according to Donk, Velazquez “came back cussing because he felt he moved too late.”

◗ She won a maiden race here going a mile in May.

Lucky Nancy E. (Last 3 Beyers 74-40-85)

◗ She scored a front-running victory over this turf course in July when setting strong early fractions on firm turf.

◗ She finished fifth as the favorite last out when unable to settle in the early stages of the race.

Princess Mara (Last 3 Beyers 68-78-56)

◗ A nine-time winner, Princess Mara is being offered for the optional-claiming tag of $40,000 after finishing last in the John Hettinger Stakes here three weeks ago.

◗ Her lone win over this turf course came when entered for a $20,000 optional-claiming price last October.

Caribean Beat (Last 3 Beyers 79-82-75)

◗ Five-year-old mare has finished third at this level in three straight races.

◗ She has recorded two of her three wins over the Belmont turf course.