Belmont: Pletcher sends out old reliable Caixa Eletronica in Duck Dance

ELMONT, N.Y. – While two graded turf stakes for juveniles highlight Sunday’s 11-race program at Belmont Park, there is a pretty good $100,000 overnight stakes for dirt sprinters that should garner some attention as well.

The $100,000 Duck Dance, which could be a prep for the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler here on Oct. 26, drew a salty nine-horse field, led by the multiple stakes-winning 8-year-old Caixa Eletronica.

Caixa Eletronica was second in his most recent start, a starter handicap that featured a match-up with Saginaw, who suffered a fatal injury during the running of the race.

Under 130 pounds, Caixa Eletronica finished second to Bernie the Maestro, who carried 114 pounds, in that Aug. 30 race.

On Sunday, Caixa Eletronica lands in a field where there should ample speed to set up his late kick. Javier Castellano rides from post 5.

“Happy with the way he’s doing,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He certainly would benefit from a fast pace scenario. If that were to develop, that always increases his chances.”

Caixa Eletronica, claimed for $62,500 by Mike Repole in March 2011, has won four graded stakes for him – the $1 million Charles Town Classic, the True North, Westchester, and Fall Highweight.

“He’s a remarkable horse,” the trainer said. “He’s been very consistent, very durable, he always shows up every morning and every race ready to go.”

Some of the speed in the field includes Say No More, who shipped from Woodbine to finish second by a nose to Souper Speedy in a third-level allowance race at Saratoga in August. His trainer, Michael Keogh, shipped the filly That’s Our Princess here to win Friday’s second race.

Star Harbour won a $35,000 claimer by 12 lengths on Aug. 29 at Saratoga, a race in which he earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure and a race from which he was claimed for $35,000 by David Nunn.

Trainer David Jacobson, who won two races on Friday’s card, has the coupled entry of Praetereo and Spa City Fever. Praetereo just ran sixth in the Grade 2 Kelso Invitational a week ago. Spa City Fever finished second behind Readtheprosectus in the Spite the Devil Stakes on Sept. 19.

Esquivel moving here mid-October

Apprentice jockey Emmanuel Esquivel, who led all jockeys in wins with 83 at Arlington Park this summer, will move his tack from the Midwest to New York in mid-October. He will be represented by agent Bill Castle.

“He’s excited,” Castle said. “He’s looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity. You got some of the best riders in the world here. The backside has been very positive about him. A lot of guys know of him. They’ve been watching him.”

Castle, who will continue to represent journeyman David Cohen, said he hopes to begin booking mounts for Esquivel for the Belmont Park card of Oct. 17.

Esquivel, a 23-year-old native of Mexico, started riding in the United States at Hawthorne in February and finished that meet as the fourth-leading rider with 23 wins.

Za Approval sharp in drill

Za Approval, a runner-up to Obviously and Wise Dan in his two most recent outings, worked a sharp half-mile in 47.91 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont main track.

He went in nearly identical quarter-mile splits of 23.92 seconds and 23.99 seconds. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.68.

“A bit quick,” trainer Christophe Clement said.

Clement said that Za Approval is a possible starter in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Knickerbocker Stakes here or he could train up to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. That decision would be made after Clement consults with owner Charlotte Weber.

Saratoga Snacks may try Showcase

Saratoga Snacks, the multiple New York-bred stakes-winning sprinter, worked a half-mile in 48.10 seconds over the Belmont main track Friday morning, the fastest of 26 moves at the distance.

It was the first work for Saratoga Snacks since he was scratched out of the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on Aug. 31.

Trainer Gary Sciacca said Friday he was not sure where he would run Saratoga Snacks, but was considering both the $150,000 Hudson at six furlongs and the $250,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles, both on the Oct. 19 New York Showcase Day card.

“Three-quarters may be too short for him, a mile and an eighth may be too long,” Sciacca said. “I’ll come back in six days and give him a good, hard work and see where we’re at.”

Saratoga Snacks had difficulties with his feet at Saratoga, prompting Sciacca to put glue-on shoes on the 4-year-old colt. Sciacca also said that Saratoga Snacks missed a little bit of time after getting sick when he returned to Belmont from Saratoga.