Belmont Park: Centring gets class relief in Turnback the Alarm

[bc_video_id:308213:]ELMONT, N.Y. – After some commendable efforts as a longshot in Grade 1 races, expectations for Centring – from her connections as well as the betting public – figure to increase when she drops in class for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park.

Centring will meet seven rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Turnback the Alarm, but none are named Royal Delta or Princess of Sylmar, multiple Grade 1 winners who have beaten her in races such as the Delaware Handicap, Personal Ensign, and Beldame Invitational.

Centring was third in the Personal Ensign and Beldame, as well as in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps here in May. In the Beldame, while wearing blinkers for the first time, Centring raced a bit closer to the pace than trainer Tom Albertrani would have preferred. She finished 8 3/4 lengths behind Princess of Sylmar, who beat Royal Delta by two lengths.

“In her last race, she was too close to the pace,” Albertrani said. “We might have been third regardless. This time, we’ll sit back and make a run. Pace means everything with her, I think.”

There appears to be ample pace in this field for Centring, who will be ridden from post 6 by Joel Rosario.

Roman Invader was on the pace in the Beldame before backing up to last. Fantasy of Flight, making her first start for Todd Pletcher, has early speed and breaks from the rail. Street Secret did her best running on the front end and was beaten when attempting to rate at 3-5 in an overnight stakes last out. Lady Cohiba won the off-the-turf Glens Falls in front-running fashion but can come from off the pace, trainer Christophe Clement said.

“She doesn’t have to be on the lead,” Clement said. “Junior [Alvarado] is riding her. Wherever he’s comfortable will be fine with me.”

Pletcher is starting both Fantasy of Flight and Royal Lahaina for the first time. Both fillies had been in the barn of Rick Dutrow Jr. before he incurred a 10-year suspension.

Fantasy of Flight, most recently trained by Michelle Nevin, finished seventh in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in her most recent start.

“We’re trying to stretch her out a little bit further than she’s been running and see how that works out for her,” Pletcher said. “She’s a big, scopey filly – you’d think a mile and a sixteenth would suit her.”

Royal Lahaina is a three-time winner at the distance and is coming off a second-place finish to Summer Applause in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth on Aug. 25.

“It looks like any of her better races certainly fit with these,” Pletcher said.

Street Secret was purchased by bloodstock agent Michel Zerolo in France and sent to Chad Brown with the idea of putting her on dirt. Street Secret has a win and two seconds in three dirt tries.

Stanwyck and Moon Philly complete the field.