Company lines stamp Charge Now as dangerous

A pair of preliminary allowance races share top billing on Friday’s card at Belmont Park, where some promising 3-year-olds go 1 1/16 miles on the main track in race 3, and full field of older fillies and mares contest a one-mile race scheduled for the Widener turf course in race 8.

Six 3-year-olds entered race 3, topped by Charge Now, a half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Trained by Bill Mott, Charge Now makes his first start against winners after finishing second in his career debut on turf and winning a maiden race on dirt at Gulfstream Park.

Charge Now’s maiden victory came at the direct expense of Legend, who subsequently earned a 95 Beyer Figure for a maiden win here opening weekend over Tiz Dark, who in turn won with a 95 last Sunday.

Long Water will break from the outside on Friday. He seemed to turn a corner for Darley Stable and Kiaran McLaughlin when blinkers came on at Aqueduct, culminating in a maiden win last time out.

Long Water may be a late bloomer in the same way that his half-brother and stablemate Long River blossomed through the second half of 2013 and captured the Time for a Change and Evening Attire early this year.

On the rail is Roman Approval, whose formative races took place at Camarero Race Park in Puerto Rico for owner Guillermo Berrios and trainer Samuel Diaz, before he was shipped to the mainland to Mike Hushion. The same pipeline brought My Wandy’s Girl, who has won two U.S. stakes for Berrios and Hushion, including this year’s Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie.

Roman Approval ran well in his first local start May 7, finishing well clear for second after chasing odds-on Bay of Plenty on a speed-favoring track. Bay of Plenty is eyeing the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes on July 5, a race that unofficially ushers in the second half of the season for local 3-year-olds, and could be the next stop for a horse who turns in a big effort in this spot.

Lieutenant Seany O, vastly improved in two starts since purchased by owner-trainer David Jacobson, stretches out from sprints.

Howl and Steve Canne Thru get a class check after beating maiden claimers.

Thirteen were entered in race 8, where Fizzy Pink, Frege, Roses for Romney, and Ubiquitous Mantle loom logical contenders in a wide-open affair.