Randomized, an Eclipse Award finalist in the 3-year-old filly division last year, makes her 2024 debut Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian Stakes for fillies and mares at the Belmont at the Big A meet. The 11-race card also includes the Fort Marcy Stakes and the Elusive Quality. Randomized came to hand last summer for Chad Brown, reeling off victories in the restricted Wilton at Saratoga on July 14, the Grade 1 Alabama there on Aug. 19, and the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont At The Big A on Oct. 8. In her final start of the season, Randomized set the pace in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita before gamely finishing second, a half-length behind Idiomatic. Randomized spots her six rivals from four to six pounds in the one-mile Ruffian. She has breezed six times at Payson Park since the middle of March, including a half-mile drill on April 20, when she appeared to be doing slightly better than Grade 3-winning workmate Occult. Randomized’s best asset is her speed, and she projects to make the lead from her rail post under Manny Franco. Brown also sends out Shidabhuti, who stalked and pounced to a victory in her first start of the year, the Grade 3 Distaff. A 4-year-old filly by Practical Joke, Shidabhuti received a career-best 88 Beyer in the Distaff. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. “I was really proud of the horse off the layoff,” Brown told NYRA track publicity after the Distaff. “I thought maybe she needed a race, and we could get a nice piece of this and move forward off of it, but as the duel developed it became clear she had a chance to win.” Green Up might offer the biggest challenge to Randomized. She already has a race this year, having finished third in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita for Todd Pletcher. That performance was flattered when the Beholder runner-up, Adare Manor, returned to capture the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Ain’t Broke, Fingal’s Cave, Soul of an Angel, and Traverse complete the field. Fort Marcy Ottoman Fleet seeks a repeat victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy for 4-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles on turf. A 5-year-old gelding by Sea The Stars, Ottoman Fleet comes into the Fort Marcy off a similar pattern as last year. Prior to winning the 2023 edition, Ottoman Fleet took the Group 3 Earl of Sefton at Newmarket. He won this year’s Earl of Sefton over eight rivals. Ottoman Fleet again will be ridden by Richard Mullen, who suffered serious injuries at Saratoga last year when he was unseated by Rebel’s Romance in the Grade 2 Bowling Green. Mullen returned to action over the winter in Dubai. Atone looks for his first win since the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf in 2023. He enters in good form after placing second in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic over Tapeta at Turfway Park on March 23. Exact Estimate makes his graded stakes debut for Brown after winning a $100,000 handicap over Tapeta at Gulfstream Park on March 2. He has the speed to be on or near the lead, along with Olympic Dreams, who is more accomplished on dirt. Multiple Grade 2 winner Master Piece, newly gelded Limited Liability, and multiple stakes winner Pioneering Spirit also are expected. Siege of Boston, who earned Grade 3 placings in his last three starts, is cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. He looms a strong contender if he runs here. Elusive Quality Although Dancing Buck hasn’t reached the winner’s circle since a five-length victory in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint in 2022, the 6-year-old gelding has stayed in honest form, placing in two graded stakes over the winter at Santa Anita. The New York-bred returns home for the $150,000 Elusive Quality for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs on the outer turf. Trained by Michelle Nevin. Dancing Buck was sent to Rick Dutrow’s Santa Anita outfit for runner-up efforts in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez on Dec. 30 and the Grade 3 San Simeon on March 9. In both races, he chased gate-to-wire winners from second position. Nothing Better won his final start of 2023 in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship. He has potent early speed. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Our Shot was cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Churchill, but trainer John Terranova confirmed via text message that the 5-year-old gelding will compete here. Yes and Yes was second in this race last year, and returns off a layoff for David Donk, who originally planned to run the 8-year-old in the King T. Leatherbury before a quarantine at Laurel Park forced him to alter course. Donk’s Thin White Duke also will make his seasonal debut. A late-running sprinter, Thin White Duke captured the Harvey Pack last summer at Saratoga. Alogon, Durante, American Monarch, and Bring Me a Check also are entered. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.