Can Unbridled Juan get the job done this time?

ELMONT, N.Y. – Unbridled Juan figures to test the resolve of chalk players once again Thursday, when he heads a field of six entered in a third-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles over Belmont Park’s main track.

Unbridled Juan has been 1.10-1 or less in his last five starts, losing his last two as an odds-on favorite. This will be his first start in 74 days, since finishing third at odds of 1-2 at this condition at Saratoga to Baccelo, who came out of that race to win the Grade 3 Iselin at Monmouth Park.

On Thursday, he returns to Belmont, where on May 4 he won a second-level allowance by 6 3/4 lengths in the slop. His loss at Saratoga came at 1 1/8 miles, also over a wet track. It should be dry Thursday.

“He’s a little suspect going that far, anyway, but the mud that day was a lot different than the mud he won on at Belmont,” said Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Unbridled Juan for Stronach Stables. “It was heavy; he didn’t handle it too well.”

Unbridled Juan appears to be well drawn in post 6 with speed horses Doyouknowsomething and Nonna’s Boy drawn immediately to his inside.

On Monday, Unbridled Juan blew out a swift three furlongs in 35.05 seconds over a “good” Belmont Park training track.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Unbridled Juan. Ortiz replaces Javier Castellano, who rides Doyouknowsomething on Thursday. Castellano guided Doyouknowsomething to a front-running win in a second-level allowance Sept. 11 here. The horse has since come back with a bullet half-mile workout in 47 seconds Sept. 22.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unbridled Juan, by Unbridled’s Song

Last 3 Beyers: 87-93-102

◗ Two starts back, in his first try at this level, Unbridled Juan finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Mylute and a nose behind Toledo Eddie.

“He hung pretty bad that day,” Jerkens said. “That was kind of a step up that day. Those were nice horses. When he makes a run at the horses, he wants to get by them; he’s not much for ding-donging it. When he makes his move, he wants to be seeing them coming back to him a little bit.”

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Jerkens is 7 for 33 on dirt over the last three years when bringing a horse back off a layoff of 60 to 180 days, with a $2.56 return on investment.

Face of Winner, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-72

◗ Makes his first start since April, when he won a second-level allowance going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park.

“The horse had a lot of problems,” trainer Gustavo Delgado said Monday. “Now the problems are okay. I think he’ll run very good this Thursday.”

Doyouknowsomething, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 97-94-98

◗ Must avoid a potential speed duel with Nonna’s Boy, who switches to dirt after a front-running score on turf last out.

◗ Scratched out of the $200,000 Temperence Hill on Oct. 2 for this.