Azar less of an outsider in Sunday allowance

When Azar drew the outside post in a field of 14 for Saturday’s Palm Beach Stakes on the Gulfstream grass, his chances of a costly wide trip grew, and he was re-entered in a first-level dirt allowance there for Sunday that goes as the 11th race.

Again, he lands on the outside, though the post might not prove to be an obstacle in the $44,000, 1 1/16-mile race. The field is smaller, with eight entrants, and from the outside, he may be able to avoid having dirt getting kicked back in his face. That could be a key given that Azar has made all six of his starts on turf.

As the class of the race, exiting four straight stakes, he will prove difficult to defeat if he takes to the dirt – though that is no certainty. His breezes on dirt at Palm Beach Downs have been moderate, and he is by a grass sire in Scat Daddy.

At least his dam, Miss Ocean City, handled dirt, recording her only victory on the Saratoga main track in 2008. And the dam’s only other foal to race, the maiden Frolicking Gal, ran her best race when second in a dirt sprint at Charles Town.

John Velazquez returns aboard Azar, who won the Grade 2 With Anticipation as a maiden last summer at Saratoga. The colt, owned by Alto Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher, was third, placed second, on Jan. 30 in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream.

If Azar regresses with the surface switch, a potential upsetter is the promising Kelly Tough, who after a second-place finish to begin his career came back and defeated maidens in a two-turn route at Gulfstream on Feb. 6.

Other contenders include a trio who have chased high-class 3-year-olds in recent starts, with Bar None having run fourth behind Shagaf on Jan. 29, Fashionable Freddy fourth behind Battery on Feb. 10, and Avast Matey third behind Zulu on Jan. 15.

Key contenders

Azar, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 82-57-80

◗ He is the most battle-tested entrant and has shown very good form on firm turf courses. He bombed over yielding ground in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30 before rebounding on good turf in the Kitten’s Joy.

Bar None, by Candy Ride

Beyers: 70-61

◗ In a position to save ground from post 1, he may revert to a stalking style. He stalked the pace to win his debut before pressing the pace second time out and tiring to fourth.

Kelly Tough, by Quality Road

Beyers: 77-73

◗ He is a rare 3-year-old who already has won beyond 1 1/16 miles, having scored his maiden win in a 1 1/8-mile dirt race.