Big Package sitting on a big performance in Sunday allowance
Big Package seems poised to fire his best shot in Sunday’s Belmont feature, a second-level allowance for New York-breds scheduled for six furlongs on the inner turf.
Big Package went into a slump after graduating second time out in October 2019, but he was rejuvenated after a layoff last Sept. 4 at Saratoga when he took a 5 1/2-furlong allowance on turf at 23-1.
Two weeks later, Big Package lost a heartbreaker in a seven-furlong allowance on the Belmont grass. After saving ground through the turn, he closed wide in the stretch to drop a nose decision to Maxwell Esquire, who came right back to win an open allowance.
Trainer David Donk gave Big Package the winter off, and the 4-year-old mounted a wide bid for third in his April 18 season opener at this class and distance. The victorious Sanctuary City subsequently won his third race in a row in an open second-level allowance.
Donk has solid numbers second-time off a layoff, and leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. retains the mount on Big Package, a good sign.
Discretionary Marq, who was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Kelly Breen at Gulfstream in December, held off Big Package for second after attending the pace April 18. He will compete Sunday with a $45,000 claiming tag again here with Javier Castellano aboard.
Valmont set a moderate pace in the same April 18 event before fading to fifth in his first outing in four months. Manny Franco, who was aboard for Valmont’s back-to-back scores in the fall of 2019, takes over for trainer Ray Handal.
Steam Engine is making his first turf start off a $40,000 claim by trainer Karl Broberg, who’s 1 for 12 first time off the claim on the NYRA circuit. There’s not much turf breeding in his immediate family, and he’s by the below-average turf sire Mineshaft.
Honor Up comes off a series of lackluster performances on the dirt against better and gets some class relief. His lone top-three placing in three turf outings was a victory in an allowance route for statebreds here two years ago.
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Among the four main-track-only entrants, Bronx Bomber and Bears Mafia look best.
Bronx Bomber was beaten just a neck at this level in both of his starts since trainer Rudy Rodriguez claimed him for $40,000 on Jan. 30. Previously a front-runner, he came from off the pace in both of those much-improved races.
Bears Mafia led all the way in a starter stakes in his penultimate start, getting his second 90 Beyer Speed Figure in his last four appearances. He came up empty most recently after failing to assume his customary position on or near the lead.