Belmont: Cribnote continues comeback

ELMONT, N.Y. – Three allowance races highlight Thursday’s Belmont Park program. In the opener, a $42,000 first-level sprint for New York-breds, Cribnote makes his second start back from a layoff of nearly three years.

After finishing second in the Hopeful and third in the Champagne as a 2-year-old, Cribnote underwent knee surgery, became a show horse, and was found to have a rare disease that makes him unable to assimilate sugars and starches.

Through it all, Cribnote just wanted to be a racehorse. With his knees healed, and on a special high-fat diet, Cribnote thrived upon his return to the track. He made it back to the races after a 1,050-day layoff at Saratoga, and finished third, beaten less than a length.

“He ran his eyeballs out,” said trainer Rick Violette Jr. “If that didn’t move him forward, I don’t know what will.”

Cribnote faces six rivals including Ground Force, who edged him for second at the Spa, and is in top form for Kathleen Feron; Wishingonastar, claimed from a win over $7,500 sprinters on Saturday, and entered back 24 hours later by Eddie Barker; and Jupiter Trio, who makes his first start back at Belmont since a maiden win the last week of the spring-summer meet.

In race 7, a $44,000 allowance for New York-breds scheduled for turf at seven furlongs, Paraiba drops out of the Yaddo Stakes for David Donk, and rates a slight edge off her good form at Belmont earlier this year.

Loyal Shadow took a neck decision over Paraiba at 56-1 under these conditions back on May 7, and comes off a 15-1 upset in a starter allowance at Saratoga for Gary Sciacca.

Who Is Lady, Rose Salvaje, and Risk a Chance ensure an honest pace. Risk a Chance would become the logical favorite in the event of a switch to the main track.

With a 60-percent chance for rain, Mother Nature could also affect race 8, a $53,000 first-level allowance scheduled for turf at 1 1/4 miles. The distance would change to 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The majority of the turf-meant runners return from layoffs, including Point of Entry, idle two months since a wide trip in the Curlin Stakes for Shug McGaughey.

Bill Mott sends out the uncoupled 3-year-olds Clear Attempt and Film Making.

The Chad Brown-trained contender Cheyenne Nation is among several entered for the optional $35,000 claim price.