Daisy Cutter, Literata can add to statebreds' success Wednesday

ELMONT, N.Y. – New York-breds certainly performed quite well in open company last weekend, with Effinex and Samraat running 1-2 in the Grade 2 Suburban, Fish Trappe Road winning the Grade 3 Dwyer, and the first-time starter Bobby On Fleek dominating maidens.

For Wednesday, it appears that statebreds Daisy Cutter and Literata will be the strength of a $77,000, first-level, open-company allowance that serves as the feature at Belmont Park. This race kicks off the pick six, which begins with a $39,212 carryover.

Daisy Cutter, a daughter of Bellamy Road, has not been out since March 18, when she finished third as the 7-5 favorite in a similar spot as this. In that race, Daisy Cutter got bumped out of the gate by eventual winner Milaya. She finished a well-beaten third.

“She bled and didn’t come out of the race well,” trainer Linda Rice said. “We had run her strong for quite a while, had a long campaign, so we turned her out, freshened her up,” Rice said. “She’s come back very well; she might need a race, but we’ll give it a run.”

On Feb. 26, Daisy Cutter defeated Literata by a head in a second-level allowance going a mile and 70 yards over Aqueduct’s inner track. Literata came back to win a stakes-caliber allowance for New York-breds around one turn and has since finished third against open company and third in the Critical Eye Stakes.

“I think the pace was too fast,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said of the Critical Eye. “This looks like a good spot for her.”

Tejana, a debut winner at Pimlico for trainer Shug McGaughey, tries winners for the first time in this spot.

KEY CONTENDERS

Literata, by Read the Footnotes

Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-81

◗ Made a good rally to be third behind Bar of Gold and Haveyougoneaway in the Critical Eye Stakes here May 30. Haveyougoneaway came back to win the Dancin Renee Stakes in her next start.

◗ May benefit from laying closer in a race without much pace.

Daisy Cutter, by Bellamy Road

Last 3 Beyers: 67-81-70

◗ Tries a one-turn mile on dirt for the first time since she debuted with a third at Aqueduct in April 2015.

“She’s kind of a clumsy-action filly. I think the one turn might be good for her,” Rice said. “She surprises me all the time; right when I can’t think she can do something, she does it.”

◗ Jose Ortiz, this meet’s leading rider, is aboard for the first time.

Tejana, by Curlin

Last Beyer: 69

◗ Showed good early speed when beating 10 rivals as a first-time starter at Pimlico on May 15.

◗ McGaughey said he entered her in several allowance races at Pimlico that failed to fill.

◗ Two horses from that May 15 race have come back to win.

◗ Her pedigree – she’s by Curlin and out of a Giant’s Causeway mare – suggests that a one-turn mile should not be an issue.