Clement to run two in Donor
ELMONT, N.Y. - Good things come in threes in Wednesday's featured eighth race, but only two among a trio of Christophe Clement-trained fillies will start in the Donor Stakes, a $65,000 overnight event scheduled for 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf.
"I'm going to run Belle Allure and Rosa Grace if the turf is firm, or Belle Allure and Shadiyna if the turf is soft," said Clement, who entered the final week of Belmont's spring-summer meet second in the standings with 20 wins, three behind Gary Contessa.
All three began their careers in Europe and have had limited racing experience in the United States.
Belle Allure campaigned exclusively in stakes after winning a maiden race at Deauville, France, as a 2-year-old, including a victory in the Group 3 Vanteaux at 1 1/8 miles. Though she hasn't won beyond that distance in two tries, one of them was against unbeaten champion Zarkava in the French Oaks. Two months ago, she finished strongly to draw clear from second-level allowance rivals at 1 1/16 miles first time out this year.
"I think the distance will be fine for her," said Clement. "She was supposed to run in the New York [on June 20], but it came off the grass and I've been waiting for a race since then."
Belle Allure picks up leading rider Ramon Dominguez, whose 90 wins are the most at a Belmont meet since Angel Cordero Jr. won 92 in 1982.
Last year, Rosa Grace won the listed Ballymacoll Stakes at 10 furlongs in her native England, and began her U.S. career by running second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga last summer.
Shadiyna, who won twice over soft ground at about 1 5/16 miles in France last year, was placed second in her U.S. debut at Aqueduct, and has been idle since running fifth in an overnight stakes here May 30; both of those races were at 1 1/16 miles.
Bubbly Jane, an import who won 4 of 5 turf starts in Brazil last year including a pair of Group 1 events, makes her first start in the U.S. for trainer Paulo Lobo.
Sunshine for Life, a three-time winner on Belmont turf including the Grade 3 Athenia last fall for Rich Schosberg, is the lone speed.
Borrowing Base, Nehantic Kat, and Winsome Ways complete the field.