Big World in Thursday feature after long layoff
ELMONT, N.Y. – After Big World won the Grade 3 Tempted at Aqueduct last November, it was always the plan to give the filly some time off. It wasn’t in the plans for her to be off nearly 11 months.
Big World makes her long-awaited 3-year-old debut in a second-level allowance race that serves as the featured event on Thursday’s program at Belmont Park, one that has 67 horses entered in nine races.
Big World, a daughter of Custom for Carlos, won 2 of 4 starts last year, including the Tempted, a one-mile race at Aqueduct. She started training again in late winter and was getting ready to return to the races in the spring at Belmont when she developed arytenoid chondritis, a condition that affects a horse’s ability to breathe.
Trainer Tony Dutrow said that Big World had to undergo a surgical procedure to correct the problem, and “it cost us a long time getting her over that,” he said.
Big World has had six works since August, and Dutrow said, “I feel confident that she’s ready to go.”
Jose Ortiz will ride Big World from post 3.
Coniah, a daughter of Harlington, shipped in from Southern California for the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga, where she finished sixth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths. She chased Lucy N Ethel and Dearest, who ran 1-2 around the track in the Prioress.
“She was in the 1 hole, and we went, but we were outsprinted early, so we were laying third,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “But she ran very well, and she’s trained well since.”
Coniah will break from post 4 under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Know It All Anna, Callista, and My Savannah Belle complete the field.
Key Contenders
Big World, by Custom for Carlos
Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-66
◗ Races for the first time in nearly 11 months after developing a throat issue that took a while to fix.
◗ When she won a maiden race at Saratoga a year ago, she beat Inheritance, who came back to win her next start by 16 lengths, and Flora Dora, who came back to win her next, a $500,000 stakes at Gulfstream.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years on this circuit, Dutrow is 2 for 10 with a $2.20 return on investment when bringing horses back off layoffs of 180 days or longer.
Coniah, by Harlington
Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-85
◗ Gets some class relief after competing in three straight stakes and might be the one to catch.
“It looks like if we break well, we’ll probably be on or near the lead,” McLaughlin said. “She worked well here and is doing well, and she’s been running all stakes, so an allowance race should be good for her.”
My Savannah Belle, by Afleet Alex
Last 3 Beyers: 76-85-84
◗ Ran a decent second in an allowance behind Eskenformoney at Belmont Park in May.
◗ Nicely drawn on the outside, giving jockey Junior Alvarado some options on how to ride this lightly raced 5-year-old mare.