Artic North should get decent pace in Thursday feature
It may not be a Test of the Champion, but seven turf-meant older males will attempt to negotiate 1 1/2 miles in Thursday’s feature race, scheduled for the Widener turf.
The $80,000 optional claimer is carded as the fourth of nine races, leads off the pick six, and carries second-level allowance conditions. Heading the field is Artic North, a Grade 2-placed gelding whose most recent attempt at 12 furlongs resulted in a close fourth in the Pan American at Gulfstream Park. His only other start at the distance was a pace-pressing fifth in the 2013 Hollywood Turf Cup.
Considering the length of the race, there should be a decent amount of early pace:
* Global Strike has notched both of his victories in wire-to-wire fashion.
* Heyaarat was a pace-pressing maiden graduate at 1 1/4 miles on Belmont’s inner turf last July, and he led throughout a preliminary allowance at Gulfstream when brought back from a layoff in March.
* Rapscallion, who is in for the optional $62,500 claiming price, has posted all three of his victories on the front end, including a maiden win at 14-1 opening weekend at Saratoga in 2013 and a pair of off-the-turf allowance races at Keeneland last year – one on Polytrack in the spring and one on dirt in the fall.
Entered for the main track only is Second City, who has won his last four races.
Key contenders
Artic North (Last 3 Beyers: 82-99-89)
* The third-place finisher in the 2014 running of the Grade 2 San Gabriel, he tops the grass-meant runners with earnings of $210,741.
* He earned a career best 99 Beyer Speed Figure in the Pan American two starts back.
Global Strike (Last 3 Beyers: 90-32-67)
* He was switched back to grass off a 51-week layoff and recaptured top form to lead throughout a preliminary allowance April 12 at Gulfstream.
* Was good enough on dirt to finish second to 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist in his second start.
Heyaarat (Last 3 Beyers: 83-87-77)
* Posted a new top Beyer winning his seasonal bow and was a beaten favorite at Keeneland in his initial 12-furlong try.
Mr. Jenney (Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-86)
* He rallied mildly at 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland first time out this year .
* He is a two-time winner on Belmont turf.
* Trainer Christophe Clement comes off a memorable Memorial Day, winning the Gamely with Hard Not to Like at Santa Anita and the Kingston with Lubash here.