Brown has two contenders for turf feature

ELMONT, N.Y. – Through the first 11 days of the Belmont Park fall meet there have been 60 turf races. Trainer Chad Brown has won 12.

There are five more turf races scheduled for Wednesday and Brown has runners in three, including the uncoupled entry of Dovecote and Homeland Security in the featured $90,000 first-level allowance for fillies and mares, scheduled for 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf course.

Dovecote appears the stronger of the two, coming off a second-place finish behind the front-running Barrel of Dreams in this same condition going 1 3/16 miles at Saratoga.

“She was unlucky last time,” Brown said. “She was hemmed up inside until very late. When she got clear late, she surged and just missed. She’s a huge filly. Saving ground was great but the trip didn’t really work for her last time. I thought she ran quite well despite that.”

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Dovecote returns to Belmont for the first time since June, when she finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Homeland Security, going 1 1/4 miles. Homeland Security finished fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in her most recent start on Aug. 2.

Brown called Homeland Security “a work in progress.”

“I see some improvement since her last race,” he said. “I’m optimistic she can take another step forward.”

Homeland Security, the 7-2 second choice for the turf on the morning line, breaks from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr. Dovecote, 2-1, breaks from post 5 under Javier Castellano.

This race marks the return of Quant, a Christophe Clement-trained runner who has not been out since February when she was beaten a head in this condition at Gulfstream Park.

“She came back pretty sore from a suspensory behind,” Clement said. “We gave her some time – she was turned out for quite a while – and she’s on her way back. I hope I have her fit enough. We’ll find out.”

The feature goes as the sixth race on a nine-race program that begins the day with a pick-six carryover of $28,060 after the wager was not hit Sunday. The pick six starts in race 4.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dovecote, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-69

◗ Couldn’t catch repeating winner Barrel of Dreams when second going 1 3/16 miles at Saratoga last out. Barrel of Dreams came back to run fourth behind Fourstar Crook in Sunday’s $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes.

◗ Showed ability to close stoutly off slow fractions winning a maiden race at Saratoga on July 28.

Quant, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-73

◗ Returns from a seven-month layoff and to a course over which she won a 1 1/4-mile maiden race last fall off a five-month layoff.

“I think she’s doing well enough,” Clement said. “Her last two races were good races.”

Church Social, by Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 82-82-81

◗ She is only 1 for 10 but has finished in the top three in seven of her races, including all four at Belmont Park.

◗ Two starts back she was beaten a length by Grateful, who came back to win her next start and then got beat a neck in the Grade 3 Glens Falls at Saratoga.