Clement has 1-2 punch in License Fee Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. - Too Sexy, a stakes winner at Belmont last October, and Miss J McKay, a stakes winner at Gulfstream in December, give trainer Christophe Clement a strong 1-2 punch as he seeks his fourth win in the $100,000 License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park today.
The License Fee, which goes as race 8 on the nine-race card, is the penultimate leg of a pick-6 wager that has a $81,453 carryover. The pick-6 begins in race 4.
Too Sexy, a 5-year-old daughter of Quality Road, won the Floral Park Stakes here last October and a second-level allowance, both six-furlong races at Belmont. She finished her season with a three-quarter-length defeat to Change of Control in the Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct.
“The last two races I thought she ran very well,” Clement said.
Clement’s big concern with Too Sexy is if he has enough work into her for this race. She shows only three breezes for her return.
“I wish I had another two weeks,” he said.
Conversely, Miss J McKay has been quite active. She won the Abundantia Stakes going five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream on Dec. 31. She came back in the Ladies’ Turf Sprint and finished fourth after a bad start. On March 12, she finished third in the Captiva Island Stakes, a race rained off the turf and run over Gulfstream’s Tapeta surface.
“I don’t think she ran as well on the Tapeta as she did on the turf the time before that,” Clement said.
Joel Rosario rides Too Sexy from post 2 while Irad Oritz Jr. rides Miss J McKay from post 3.
Seven were entered but only six will run in the License Fee Stakes, run at six furlongs. Assertive Style, who had the look of a live longshot in the race, was scratched Sunday morning due to a cough, according to trainer Tom Morley.
Miss Majorette makes her first start for trainer Mark Casse in this spot. A 5-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, Miss Majorette raced previously for Ann Merryman and then Michael Merryman. Miss Majorette finished fourth, 1 1/2 lengths back of runner-up Too Sexy, in the Autumn Days last Nov. 28.
Igloo, Alwayz Late and Gogo Shoes complete the field.
First post starting Sunday is 1 p.m.
*** On Sunday, NYRA debuts a new pick-3 wager, the NYRA Triple Play. The wager is a $3 minimum bet, and is offered only on the last three races on the Sunday cards throughout the meet.
The wager is in addition to the traditional $1 pick-3 that is still offered on those same races. The takeout on the NYRA Triple Play is 19 percent, compared to 24 percent on the traditional pick-3.