Bay of Plenty tries turf in allowance feature
ELMONT, N.Y. – A pick-six carryover of $83,676 awaits horseplayers at Belmont Park on Wednesday, but its perilous sequence includes a maiden New York-bred event in the last with six first-time starters in an 11-horse field.
The card’s race 8 feature is a multiconditioned turf allowance at 1 1/16 miles. Ice Cutter, coming off a second-level allowance win at this meet, and Night Prowler, who came off a yearlong layoff to earn the best Beyer Speed Figure of his career, are the logicals.
An intriguing entry is Bay of Plenty, a 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro trained by Kiaran McLaughlin who hasn’t run since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga in September 2015. Bay of Plenty will make his turf debut in this spot. He is eligible for this race under the condition “for horses who have not won a race since Nov. 1, 2015.”
“It’s easier to run one on the turf than the dirt off a long layoff going a distance,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin also noted that there is “a lot of turf” in Bay of Plenty’s pedigree. In addition to being a son of Medaglia d’Oro, his second dam, Flagbird, was a Group 1 winner on turf in Europe and placed in multiple Grade 1 stakes in the U.S.
“Good time to try,” McLaughlin said. “I hope he loves the turf and never runs on the dirt again.”
Bay of Plenty has been off so long due to a condylar fracture to his right hind leg sustained about a month after the 2015 Woodward.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ice Cutter, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-88
◗ Showed a strong late foot when he got clear to win a second-level allowance here Sept. 25, making him 2 for 2 over the Belmont turf.
◗ Got beat twice at Saratoga, including a sixth-place finish July 23. Trainer Christophe Clement said he felt the horse was adversely affected by the heat that day.
“No doubt he acts better in cooler weather,” Clement said.
Weekend Express, by Any Given Saturday
Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-87
◗ Has twice finished second in this condition at Monmouth Park.
◗ Two starts back, he was second to Ghost Hunter, who has won six consecutive races, including the Presque Isle Downs Masters.
◗ Antonio Gallardo, who was aboard for this gelding’s most recent win three starts back, is reunited with him today.
◗ He did win a starter allowance over this course and at today’s distance back in May 2015.
Bay of Plenty, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 99-102-66
◗ Makes his first start in 13 months.
◗ Has run well fresh, winning allowance races off layoffs of five and six months.
◗ Shows seven works, five over the synthetic track at the Greentree training facility near Saratoga.