Clement has two for turf route
ELMONT, N.Y. – The second half of the Belmont Park spring-summer meet – also known as the calm after the storm – kicks off Wednesday with a nine-race card highlighted by a competitive $85,000, third-level allowance race scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.
Four of the seven runners come out of a similar spot as this May 14, including Iron Power and Blacktype, who finished second and fourth behind Sycamore Lane in that 1 1/8-mile race. Iron Power and Blacktype are both trained by Christophe Clement but will run as separate betting interests.
Iron Power, who was second after setting the pace in that spot, might appreciate cutting back a sixteenth of a mile. Blacktype might appreciate it if someone prompts Iron Power early in the race.
One prospect to do that is J to the Croft, who stretches out to a route race after winning a second-level optional claimer going six furlongs May 14, his first start in nearly eight months.
Slim Shadey, second to Reload in a one-mile optional claimer May 22, is the only member of this field entered for the optional-claiming price of $80,000.
KEY CONTENDERS
Iron Power (Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-89)
◗ He has recently finished second twice in this same condition, once at Keeneland and once here May 14. He did lose the latter race to Sycamore Lane, who was winning for the second straight time.
◗ He beat stablemate Blacktype handily last November at Aqueduct.
◗ He would be the one to beat in the unlikely event that the race is rained off the turf and onto dirt.
Blacktype (Last 3 Beyers: 86-92-88)
◗ He came off a five-month layoff to win a second-level optional claimer by a nose at this distance at Aqueduct in April.
◗ In his most recent start, a fourth in this condition, he was steadied entering the first turn, taken in hand and shuffled back around the second turn, and finished with a little interest while buried on the inside in the stretch.
“He didn’t have the best of trips,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Clement. “That horse needs to have everything his own way.”
J to the Croft (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-81)
◗ He came off a layoff of nearly eight months to win a second-level allowance condition going six furlongs in his 4-year-old debut.
◗ He has not won beyond seven furlongs but was beaten only a neck last year going this distance at Belmont.
Slim Shadey (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-94)
◗ He was sixth to Winning Cause in the Grade 3 Red Bank at Monmouth on May 22, then came back six days later to finish second to Reload in a high-priced optional claimer going a mile.
◗ This former stakes winner is winless in four tries over Belmont’s turf.