Belmont: Mareina has another live one in Divine Music

ELMONT, N.Y. – Michael Mareina’s decision to bring a 14-horse string to New York for the first time has certainly paid off, as the trainer has 2 wins and a third from his first 4 starters at the Belmont Park meet.

Wednesday, Mareina will seek to continue his good fortune here when he runs Divine Music for the first time in a $74,000 optional claiming/allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs. Of the six horses entered, four are being offered for the optional claiming price of $50,000 including Divine Music.

Mareina, who in the past has summered at Woodbine and Churchill, purchased Divine Music this past January out of the Keeneland horses of all ages sale for $75,000 for owner Ernie Kuehne. The horse wintered at Gulfstream, but Mareina said the horse got sore on him and he also thought that track was “stinging him” a little bit, so he opted not to run him there.

At Belmont Park, the horse shows a series of steady works including a bullet five-furlong move in 59 seconds on May 19.

“I think he’s training great right now, doing real well, I’m very pleased with him” Mareina said. “He seems to like this track real well. He seems to like it a little better than he did Gulfstream. I’m looking for a good race.”

Divine Music has raced on dirt, turf, and synthetic but has done his best work on dirt, especially when the track is fast.

Divine Music looks to be a stalker and should have enough speed to chase in the field. Trainer David Jacobson has the uncoupled entry of Charlestonian and Bambi Bound in the field and both have speed, as does Hillswick.

Jacobson claimed Bambi Bound for $20,000 on March 22. He ran him back on March 11 for $35,000 and the gelding dueled through hot early fractions before giving way to Strapping Groom late.

Vexor, who won the Grade 2 Nashua at Belmont last fall, is also entered in this spot. In his only start this year, Vexor finished last in the OBS Sprint, a race run over a synthetic surface.

Earlier on the card, Orient Moon, a six-length debut winner at Gulfstream Park, faces winners for the first time in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Orient Moon went gate to wire to win her debut by six lengths while running six furlongs in 1:10.83. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Superior Sarah, a New York-bred who has won three races, looms the major threat from off the pace.

Street Mate, Victoria Lynn, Silverette round out the field.