Cherry Lodge stays short in Matron

ELMONT, N.Y. – Perhaps later in her career, Cherry Lodge will be able to harness her speed and stretch out in distance. For now, she seems like a very talented sprinter and the horse to beat in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park.

Cherry Lodge, a daughter of Bernardini owned by Gainesway Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, won her debut at Saratoga by one length over Amapola, who despite her maiden status is Cherry Lodge’s main competition in the Matron.

Cherry Lodge was sent off as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Spinaway but got used up in a speed duel and faded to third behind Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer, who dead-heated for the win.

Pletcher had the option of trying Cherry Lodge in the Grade 1 Frizette, a one-turn-mile race held last weekend here, but opted to keep the filly short for now.

“The one thing about the Spinaway, she just seemed a little bit keen,” Pletcher said. “We felt like maybe stretching her out to a mile off that race might not be the right move, especially with a six-furlong alternative. We’ll see if we can do well there and figure out which direction to go after that. We think she’s a very talented filly. We need to get her to relax a little and ration out that speed when called upon.”

Cherry Lodge will break from post 4 under John Velazquez.

Amapola was disqualified from a 9 3/4-length victory at Gulfstream Park on May 25 and purchased privately by Lael Stable after that race. Following her second to Cherry Lodge in her first start for Lael and trainer Bill Mott, Amapola ran second to Yellow Agate in a six-furlong maiden race here Sept. 11. Yellow Agate came back to win the Frizette last weekend.

Amapola will break from post 2 under Manny Franco.

Fly, Arella Rockstar, and Spirituality complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Cherry Lodge, by Bernardini

Beyers: 64-89

◗ Showed good speed and then edged clear from Amapola in a sharp debut victory at Saratoga on Aug. 7.

◗ She has had a trio of solid works since the Spinaway.

Amapola, by Broken Vow

Beyers: 83-86

◗ She was eligible for a maiden race on this same card but ended up here when this race came up light in numbers.

Spirituality, by Gemologist

Beyers: 51-65

◗ She was a dominant eight-length debut winner at Delaware Park on Aug. 4, but runners out of that race are a combined 0 for 6.

◗ She was transferred from Shannon Ritter to Pletcher by WinStar shortly after her ninth-place finish in the Arlington-Washington Lassie over Arlington’s synthetic surface.

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 5.