Blindwillie McTell, Newly Minted try turf in New York Stallion Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Blindwillie McTell and Newly Minted have combined to win six of eight starts, including five stakes, all on dirt. But seeing limited options that she likes on that surface, trainer Linda Rice is expected to start both 3-year-olds on turf Sunday in a pair New York Stallion Stakes races at Belmont Park.

Blindwillie McTell, a gelding by Posse who has won three stakes, was among 11 male 3-year-olds entered in the $150,000 Spectacular Bid division of the Stallion Stakes. Newly Minted, a daughter of Central Banker who is undefeated in three starts, with two stakes wins, makes her turf debut in the $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division. Both races are at seven furlongs.

“When you look at the open-company races, they’re really tough,” Rice said. “I’d rather experiment on the turf than step into the deep end of the pool.”

Rice said she would prefer the ground to be on the firm side Sunday. It has rained basically all week on Long Island, though the forecast from midafternoon Friday through Sunday was for dry conditions.

“Right now, we’re still on course for Sunday,” said Rice, who may scratch Smooth Tales from the Spectacular Bid.

Blindwillie McTell won the seven-furlong Mike Lee Stakes by two lengths on dirt here May 27. The next significant dirt stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds is the $150,000 New York Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Finger Lakes on July 20. Rice doesn’t think Blindwillie McTell necessarily wants to run that far, so she felt this was the best option.

Blindwillie McTell worked twice on the turf and seemed to handle it well.

Funny Guy, who traded decisions with Blindwillie McTell in their last two meetings, is also trying turf for the first time in the Spectacular Bid. He’s worked twice on the grass and has impressed both trainer John Terranova and jockey Rajiv Maragh.

“When you watched him work last week, even Rajiv said he might even be better on grass; he did it really well,” Terranova said.

Funny Guy is a sibling to a pair of horses who won on turf, albeit low-level claiming races.

One of the few proven turf runners in the field is Veterans Beach, who won his debut on turf last summer at Saratoga. After a couple of stakes tries over softer turf last fall, Veterans Beach came off a layoff with a second-place finish behind repeating winner Elektronic in a six-furlong allowance here May 27 in which he might have made the lead too soon.

“The other horse really kicked on. They ran pretty quick that day,” trainer David Donk said. “It might be a question of how short his run is. I’ll certainly relay that to Johnny [Velazquez].”

Veterans Beach is owned by Frank and Patricia Generazio, who also send out Magical Tale with trainer Jim Ryerson. Magical Tale has not run since taking a maiden race here last September.

In the Cupecoy’s Joy, Rice is eager to see how Newly Minted handles turf after three dominant victories on dirt. Last Sunday, Newly Minted worked on turf, starting five lengths behind Blindwillie McTell and finishing a head in front at the wire under Jose Lezcano, who will ride her Sunday.

“I didn’t want them to go too fast, so I didn’t want to put them head-and-head, so I separated them,” Rice said. “I just wanted them to get a feel for it. I thought she looked great on the turf.”

There is not much turf form in the Cupecoy’s Joy, as the field has combined to go 2 for 15 on that surface.

Niko’s Dream is coming off a maiden win going a mile on turf. Last fall, she was beaten a neck with a wide trip when running six furlongs here on grass.

Funny Money Honey won a maiden $40,000 claiming race on turf in May and finished third in a starter allowance on turf here June 7.

Kid Is Frosty, a daughter Frost Giant, is trying turf for the first time. She has worked well twice over the surface for trainer Brad Cox.