Dutrow hoping Supply and Demand can get seven furlongs in Belmont feature
ELMONT, N.Y. – After a slow first five months, trainer Tony Dutrow’s fortunes are beginning to turn having won with four of his last five starters, including Buy Land and See in the June 3 With Anticipation Stakes at Penn National.
Dutrow, who is closing in on 2,000 career wins, hoped to keep the good times rolling this week, after first winning with High Opinion in a $100,000 stakes Tuesday at Parx Racing and then with Supply and Demand running in a first-level allowance turf sprint that serves as Thursday’s feature at Belmont Park.
First post Thursday is 3:05 p.m.
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Dutrow, who began the week with 1,992 career victories, claimed Supply and Demand for $40,000 last summer at Saratoga. Two starts later, he won a starter allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Belmont. Following a last-place finish in this condition on dirt at Aqueduct in February, Dutrow tried Supply and Demand on turf May 5 at Belmont and he finished a late-running third, beaten a half-length. Yes and Yes, who won that race, came back to win his next start here last Thursday with a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
In that turf race, at six furlongs, Supply and Demand took advantage of a very fast early pace to close from next to last. He was eight wide in the stretch.
“I was so happy to see him run the way he did in an experiment that I was more than willing to overlook any detail like that,” Dutrow said of the trip. “The big picture made me very happy.”
Thursday’s race is at seven furlongs, and Dutrow is a little leery of the distance.
“I’m hoping,” Dutrow said. “I’m not as confident with seven as I am with six.”
Javier Castellano rides Supply and Demand from post 7 in a nine-horse field on turf. Dust Devil is entered as main track only.
Dancing Buck finished a length behind Supply and Demand when fifth in that same six-furlong allowance May 5. He was a stalking presence that day. In his most recent turf try at seven furlongs, in a New York-bred allowance last October, he finished second after being part of the early pace.
Microphone has been a beaten favorite in his last two starts in this condition but is turning back to a one-turn race for the first time for trainer Chad Brown, who enters the week 32 for 94 at the Belmont spring meet.
Biz Biz Buzz, third to Slipstream in the Grade 3 Futurity here last October, returns from a six-month layoff in this spot for Mike Trombetta. He showed speed when finishing third in the Pulpit Stakes on Dec. 3 at Gulfstream, though that race was run around two turns.
Trainer Rob Atras sends out the uncoupled entry of Ghost Giant and Bay Street Money in this spot. Ghost Giant, a 7-year-old New York-bred gelding, is a three-time winner at Belmont, one of those coming four years ago at this distance versus statebreds.
Bay Street Money won his maiden going a mile two back at Aqueduct and was fourth in this condition, also at a mile on May 6.
Shiraz, Standup, and Bryce Canyon complete the field.