Bon Fearless sprints forward
ELMONT, N.Y. - Bon Fearless took full advantage of the last good opportunity for a New York-bred sprinting filly until fall when she romped to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Bouwerie Stakes on May 13.
Now, trainer Michael Nevin must figure out how well Bon Fearless stacks up against open company, a process that begins Friday in a seven-furlong, third-level allowance race at Belmont Park. First post for Friday's nine-race twilight program is 3:05 p.m.
Bon Fearless, a daughter of Mighty Magee, is the only 3-year-old in the field of seven, but she is undefeated sprinting, including winning twice at seven furlongs. Bon Fearless, who breezed a half-mile in 50.52 Wednesday at Aqueduct, is two for three at Belmont. Richard Migliore rides, from the rail.
If Bon Fearless can handle open company on Friday, Nevin said he might consider running her back in the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes at six furlongs on July 4.
"I think she's probably better at three-quarters, but her two races at seven are good as well," Nevin said. "All these riders that were getting off of her telling me she'd go a mile. Well, she doesn't get it. The ideal situation is that there's some pace and she'll sit off it because she will rate like she showed last time.''
The pace Friday figures to be established by Eventail, a 4-year-old New York-bred who has not been out since she finished sixth as the 8-5 favorite in last October's Iroquois Handicap here. Eventail, trained by Richard Schosberg, won three consecutive races last summer, including the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes, before running second to Critical Eye in the Grade 3 Honey Bee Handicap at the Meadowlands.
Eventail shows three bullet workouts leading up to her return, including a half-mile in 48.11 seconds on May 26. It was the best of 52 moves at the distance. Edgar Prado rides, from post 3.
Another horse returning for a lengthy layoff is Rochelle's Terms, who hasn't been out since finishing second behind Tax Affair at this level on Jan. 18. Her last win came in a second-level allowance at seven furlongs on Dec. 1.
Valid Annie, who runs her best at Belmont; East Coast Country, who makes her first start off the Juan Serey claim; Crescent Coast, and Keratoid's Chubbs complete the field.