Clement has two good shots in Plenty of Grace

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association attempted to enhance its spring meet by adding a few new turf stakes to the schedule. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to entice too many horsemen to point to them.

Friday’s $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes – named for the multiple Grade 2 winner campaigned by Darby Dan Farm in the early 1990s – drew only five older fillies and mares to run on the turf. The Danger’s Hour, originally slated for April 4 but postponed by weather, did not get enough entries to fill when rescheduled for this Saturday.

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For the Plenty of Grace, trainer Christophe Clement has shipped up the duo of Stellar Path and Cushion from his base at Payson Park in Florida. The two will run uncoupled in the wagering. Stellar Path seems to be a one-mile specialist because she made her last nine starts at the distance in France, winning three of them, including a Group 3 in the fall of 2013. Cushion, who won her U.S. debut last June when brought over from Europe, seems to prefer longer distances.

“Cushion, it might be a little bit [short] for her,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Clement. “Whereas Stellar Path, it’s probably more of her distance.”

Trainer Shug McGaughey has pointed Tokyo Time to this race since she won an allowance race at Gulfstream in February.

Principessa Ava, second in her only start at Aqueduct last November, and Streethomealabama, who is 2 for 20 in her career, complete the turf runners.

There were three other runners entered in case the race is moved to the main track, and showers are in the forecast.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stellar Path

◗ She won 5 of 13 starts in France, including a Group 3 in 2013 when she defeated Kenzadaregent, who came to the U.S. last summer and won a pair of allowance races for Chad Brown.

◗ Stellar Path has had a series of steady works at Payson Park.

“The works have been more than decent in Florida this winter,” Lorieul said. “Not sure she’s 100 percent tight, but she’s not far from it.”

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Clement is 9 for 34 with a $3.10 return on investment with horses previously based in Europe making their first start for him on turf.

Tokyo Time (Last 3 Beyers: 88-79-86)

◗ She has won three of her last five starts, displaying versatile running styles. At Saratoga last summer, she won a first-level allowance in gate-to-wire fashion. In her last start, at Gulfstream, she pressed the pace before winning by a head over next-out winner Lori’s Store.

“She can do whatever you want, but I would rather she’s forwardly placed,” trainer McGaughey said.