Capsized returns ? again
ELMONT, N.Y. ? Capsized, whose career has been punctuated by layoffs, has taught trainer Lisa Lewis patience.
On Friday Capsized emerges from his latest layoff in the eighth race at Belmont Park, a 1 1/16-mile allowance on the Widener turf course. The $57,000 race drew a field of seven, plus five main-track-only horses.
Capsized, a 5-year-old, has had a series of setbacks since finishing third in the Grade 2 San Rafael Stakes in 1999 at Santa Anita. But when he has run, Capsized has shown talent. Before getting sent to the sidelines 13 months ago with a small tear in a hind suspensory, Capsized won his turf debut at Saratoga.
"We gave him plenty of time to let it heal," Lewis said shortly before sending out the winner of Wednesday's seventh race, Logan's Girl. "He's really been training well and he's ready to get going again."
Capsized, who will be ridden by Jose Santos from post 7, worked a bullet half-mile in 47.48 seconds on the dirt here Sept. 28.
City West, a Group 1 winner in Argentina, is the horse to beat in Friday's race. He was 10th in the Grade 1 Atto Mile in his last start, but earlier this year finished third in a California stakes behind Irish Prize and Timboroa, who later became Grade 1 winners.
Trainer Patrick Biancone has named Jerry Bailey to ride City West, who drew post 6.
Green Fee sports a good record at Belmont Park and won a third-level allowance race here at Friday's distance on Sept. 7. Heberto Castillo Jr. rides Green Fee, who drew post 2, for trainer Dan Peitz.
The speedy Presente Senor won a Belmont allowance race on June 29 after establishing a lively pace. He returned and finished fourth in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch after setting a contested pace.
Richard Migliore, aboard Presente Senor for his win at Belmont during the summer, is back aboard for trainer Kristina Dupps, who is 2 for 3 at the Belmont fall meet.
Stokosky ran for the first time in nearly two months in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at The Meadowlands on Sept. 22 and finished ninth. The 5-year-old Stokosky is 0 for 6 this year.
Oscar for Bert is coming off a poor effort in the Manila Stakes a week ago at The Meadowlands, and Migwaki won an allowance race at Delaware Park in his last start on Sept. 18.