Dynatail gets class relief in Drumtop Stakes

The $75,000 Drumtop Stakes will highlight the second weekend of racing at Suffolk Downs on Saturday, when Dynatail will try to continue a solid campaign.

She will break from the rail in a seven-horse field of sophomore fillies who have never won a graded stakes race and will go about a mile over the turf. Dynatail, a Hightail filly, will be getting class relief after her first try in Grade 1 company, the Belmont Oaks on July 8, when she finished 10th of 11.

Dynatail entered that race off a career effort in the Penn Oaks on June 3, when she fought pressure on the lead throughout and prevailed over Party Boat by three-quarters of a length. Dynatail earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure in the Penn Oaks, making her the only horse in this field to have earned a number higher than 90.

Orlando Bocachica regains the mount on Dynatail after two starts apart. He most recently rode the filly to a third in the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico in May, and they won the fillies’ division of the OBS Championship Stakes together over the Ocala Training Center’s all-weather surface in January.

Mike Dini trains Dynatail for owner Ballybrit Stable.

The well-bred Bellavais looks to be Dynatail’s primary competition. The Tapit filly enters off a runner-up finish by a neck June 24 in the Wild Applause Stakes, which was taken off the turf at Belmont. It was her second straight narrow defeat, following a third-place finish by three-quarters of a length in the Soaring Softly Stakes at Belmont on May 20.

Bellavais has the most consistent form in the Drumtop field as the only entrant to post Beyers of 80 or higher in each of her last three starts. Michael Luzzi picks up the mount for owner Phillips Racing Partnership and trainer Jimmy Toner.

Also entered is Noble Ready, who has been knocking on the door in stakes for nearly a year.

The daughter of More Than Ready has raced in four consecutive stakes and has never finished worse than fourth. That came in her last start, the Penn Oaks, where she finished 3 3/4 lengths behind Dynatail in an even effort. It was her second start of 2017, having run second in the Honey Ryder Stakes in May at Gulfstream Park.

Eric Cancel picks up the mount for owner Cheyenne Stables and trainer Christophe Clement.