Coincidentally seeks fourth straight victory in Tall Stack
Coincidentally displayed nothing in four starts as a 2-year-old to suggest that he might be much of a racehorse. His best winning Beyer Speed Figure was a 37.
This spring, however, Coincidentally has been a much faster sprinter among 3-year-old Ohio-breds. Coincidentally has reeled off three consecutive wins since mid-March, including a six-length romp worth a career-best 80 Beyer in the Howard Noonan Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course three weeks ago.
Anything close to a repeat of that performance will make Coincidentally difficult to deny in Saturday’s $75,000 Tall Stack Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belterra Park.
His nine challengers include Prime Time Justice, who makes his first start since easily defeating maidens last November, and Tough It Up, idle since winning the 1 1/16-mile Best of Ohio Juvenile last October.
Tall Stack, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Coincidentally, by Super Saver
Last 3 Beyers: 80-68-64
◗ He could regress a half-dozen points on the Beyer scale and still win. Nearly all his opponents Saturday have been recording Beyers in the mid-to-upper 60s.
Strike Your Light, by Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 47-56-73
◗ Draw a line through his lone start this season, in which he broke slowly and got bumped around while facing open stakes company going long on Polytrack. His win going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs last fall puts him within range of Coincidentally.
Tough It Up, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 62-58-43
◗ Won his career debut easily at Belterra last summer off workouts alone, so his long absence shouldn’t be a factor. Trainer Tom Drury is 3 for 11 (27 percent) with horses switching from routes to sprints following a layoff of more than 180 days.
Prime Time Justice, by Into Mischief
Beyers: 59-32
◗ Returns after easily winning his second career start Nov. 30. Trainer Aaron West does well with long-layoff types, going 11 for 46 (24 percent) with sprinters back following layoffs of 61 to 180 days.
