Bettors have decisions to make in Wednesday allowances
ELMONT, N.Y. – Perhaps to whet your appetite for Saturday’s New York Showcase Day program, there are four New York-bred races Wednesday at Belmont Park, including two second-level allowances carrying $65,000 purses. Both races offer a $40,000 optional claiming tag and have several runners eligible to be claimed.
The seventh race, at seven furlongs on turf, will have horse-for-course handicappers debating between Maura’s Pass and Sister Sophia, both of whom are two-time winners over Belmont’s grass courses.
The eighth race, scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, will have handicappers wondering what to do with Cuantos, who has not been out in a year, and Drama King, a beaten favorite in three of his last four starts.
Key contenders
RACE 7
Sister Sophia (Last 3 Beyers: 80-82-75)
◗ Though she consistently breaks slowly, she always comes with a strong late run.
“She’s good in the gate, stands good in the morning, and she’s fast, but in the afternoon, she doesn’t show that speed, and it takes a little bit to get her going,” trainer Lisa Lewis said.
◗ Her second-place finish to Rumble Doll in August looks better after Rumble Doll came back to run third behind Lady Shipman in a stakes race at Saratoga and then win an open, first-level allowance race.
Maura’s Pass (Last 3 Beyers: 75-76-78)
◗ Like Sister Sophia, she won two races going one turn at Belmont during the spring meet.
◗ Finished sixth when attempting two turns and 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 10, her most recent start.
Harlan’s Honor (Last 3 Beyers: 75-64-75)
◗ Had the misfortune of running into Lady Shipman twice this year, finishing third to her on both occasions. Ran second at this same condition at Saratoga last out in her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Race 8
Cuantos (Last 3 Beyers: 64-89-89)
◗ Strung together three very solid races in the summer of 2014, winning twice and losing by a nose in between. He finished sixth at this condition last October in his last start.
◗ He suffered a hairline fracture during a training accident last winter. Shows a steady work tab for his return.
“We gave him time off and took care of it, and he looks great,” trainer Mark Hennig said. “He always runs well fresh, too.”
◗ Javier Castellano rides from post 2.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Cuantos. Trainer Mark Henning is 20-1-5-3 with a $0.63 ROI over the past five years on dirt with runners returning from a layoff of 250 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Rectify (Last 3 Beyers: 82-51-81)
◗ Ran arguably his best race in winning a first-level statebred allowance Sept. 7 with blinkers added. Colorado Grandslam, the runner-up from that race, came back to win here last Friday.
◗ Should get a solid pace to close into.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Rectify. Trainer Bill Mott is 24-8-4-3 with a $2.56 ROI over the past two years with last-out winners in dirt sprints on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Gypsum Johnny (Last 3 Beyers: 82-77-75)
◗ Has maintained his form throughout a busy 10-race campaign this year and was second at this condition last out to Possilicious, who was fourth but beaten just three-quarters of a length in an open allowance last Saturday.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Native Hero. Trainer Gary Contessa is 62-2-9-9 with a $0.64 ROI over the past five years with horses returning in two weeks or less in the first start following a claim. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Bond Vigilante. Trainer Bruce Levine is 39-1-3-4 with a $0.39 ROI over the past two years when adding blinkers. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan