Doncho will be allowed to use his speed in Gold Fever Stakes

Doncho began his career in sparkling fashion, winning two six-furlong races at the Fair Grounds with identical 94 Beyer Speed Figures.

On Sunday, Doncho looks to rebound from his first career loss when he meets seven other 3-year-olds going six furlongs in the $150,000 Gold Fever Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet.

The $150,000 License Fee will be run earlier on the card.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, Doncho finished fourth in his stakes debut last month in the Lafayette, a seven-furlong race at Keeneland.

“I think we overthought it a little bit,” Lovell said. “[We] took his weapon away, which is letting him travel. It was Keeneland opening day. Speed, rail, and we gave those two things up, unfortunately, and tried to track.

“He got a little green, he faced a little pressure on the turn with a horse lapped outside of him. He’s never been hit with the stick, so he wandered in the stretch and got a little tired from his early efforts, chasing under a hold.”

Lovell tried the Lafayette with the hope of making the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs, but “since we didn’t do as well as we thought we would, we’re backing up [to six furlongs] and going back to basics and what he knows how to do well.”

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There are other speed types in the Gold Fever, but Lovell feels Doncho can adapt to any pace scenario.

“He doesn’t have to be gunned to the lead,” Lovell said. “He just has some natural speed. I guess we have to let it play out, let him run his race.”

Maximus Meridius returns to Aqueduct from his Parx base after blowing a clear stretch lead and finishing second in the Bay Shore at seven furlongs on April 6.

“He has a bad tendency of waiting on horses when he makes the lead and he did it again last time,” trainer Butch Reid told NYRA publicity. “I still don’t think he’s given us everything he has. He’s a very good horse, who is kind of cheating on us a little bit.”

Billal, third in last year’s Nashua at one mile, recently earned a pace-pressing victory over this distance in a first-level allowance at Keeneland. His second dam, Perfect Sting, won 14 of 21 starts, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Trained by Bill Mott, Billal figures to be close to the early pace.

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered two colts in the race. Late-running Eliminate kicked hard in the stretch to finish third in the Bay Shore. He would appreciate a fast pace to attack in the final furlong.

Pirate, a half-brother to Preakness and Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure, was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga last summer, then finished third in the Grade 1 Hopeful. Given the rest of the year off, he finished fourth behind Billal in his seasonal debut. Pirate was cross-entered in a first-level allowance at Churchill on Saturday.

Buccherino wired six others at Parx in his first start of the year when entered for the $75,000 claiming option. Plagued with foot issues last year, Buccherino appears to be back to his best form.

Stakes winner Yo Yo Candy and stakes-placed Iridescent complete the field.

License Fee

With Gal in a Rush and Dontlookbackatall, trainer Christophe Clement has a strong one-two punch in the License Fee, a six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares over the outer turf.

Gal in a Rush, away since winning two allowance races over the summer, showed some quality earlier in her career, finishing second in the Grade 3 Matron at Belmont Park while still a maiden.

Dontlookbackatall has a recency edge over her uncoupled stablemate, having finished a close second in a high-level allowance at Gulfstream Park on March 31. The consistent Pennsylvania-bred has cracked the board in her last seven starts, including a runner-up effort in the Glen Cove during last fall’s Belmont at the Big A meeting.

Lady Milagro pulled off a 51-1 upset when wiring eight others in Aqueduct’s Autumn Days last fall. She raced once at Gulfstream over the winter, finishing last of seven in the Abundantia on New Year’s Eve. Trained by Carlos Martin, Lady Milagro could be the controlling speed.

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Grade 3 winner Honey Pants, second in the Queen Stakes over the Tapeta at Turfway Park on March 16, looms a strong contender if she starts. She is cross-entered in Saturday’s Whimsical Stakes at Woodbine, where she is the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Risk Free steps up in class seeking her first turf victory. Hot Fudge and Everyoneloveslinda are entered main track- only. As of Friday morning, the National Weather Service was forecasting a 70 percent chance of rain for Sunday afternoon.

◗ The Grade 3, $175,000 Beaugay Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf did not fill. It will be rescheduled for May 11 with entries to be taken Wednesday.

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