Bellamy Way looks ready to fire fresh in allowance route

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When he stopped on Bellamy Way late last spring, trainer David Cannizzo was hoping to have the now-5-year-old New York-bred ready to run this winter at Aqueduct, where he won two races and ran second from three starts over the inner track last winter.

It took Cannizzo a little longer than he had hoped, but Bellamy Way returns to the races Sunday at Aqueduct, where he heads a six-horse field entered in a first-level allowance scheduled for a mile and 70 yards.

Bellamy Way is making his first start since running fourth of five in the Commentator Stakes at Belmont last May. He had started 11 times in 11 months, and Cannizzo said the horse needed a freshening.

“My main goal was to have him ready for the inner. We’re there,” Cannizzo said. “I didn’t have him ready as early as I wanted. He came in very heavy from the farm, and it took me a while to get him where I had to have him. He’s ready. I expect a very good effort.”

Bellamy Way has run well fresh in the past. Last July, he came off an 8 1/2-month layoff to win a first-level New York-bred allowance by 3 3/4 lengths over Send It In, who has won two stakes races over the inner track this winter.

Cannizzo said Bellamy Way has been working with Virtual Machine, a 4-year-old colt who came off an eight-month layoff to win a maiden race by 8 1/2 lengths here Feb. 16.

Bellamy Way has the tactical speed to be close up to what could be a moderate pace. Imasuperstar, who stretches out around two turns for the first time in eight starts, and Winning Road, a front-running maiden winner Jan. 22, appear to be the pace of the race.

Pretentious, To the Victor, and Pax in Terra complete the field.

Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Bellamy Way, by Bellamy Road

Last 3 Beyers: 87-83-89

◗ A beaten favorite in two starts against open company, he looks to have caught an average field on Sunday.

◗ Recorded his two best Beyer Speed Figures (99 and 96) over the inner track last winter.

◗ Has typically run well fresh, including an allowance win over Send It In last July off a layoff similar to this most recent one.

Winning Road, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-79

◗ In his first start around two turns – and first as a gelding – he dominated a group of maidens by 9 1/4 lengths here Jan. 22.

◗ Figures to be part of the pace after breaking from the rail under J.D. Acosta.

Pax in Terra, by Mizzen Mast

Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-81

◗ He has three wins and three seconds from eight lifetime starts over the inner track and is 10-0-0-4 elsewhere.

◗ Came with a belated, wide bid to finish second in similar spot Feb. 4.

◗ Is winless in last nine starts since taking a second-level New York-bred allowance by 5 1/2 here on Jan. 25, 2015.