Easy Time in his element sprinting on turf in Carle Place Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Easy Time has been tried on multiple surfaces and at multiple distances, but his runner-up performance in the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs last out has trainer Mark Casse hoping the colt has found a niche as a turf sprinter.
Easy Time will get a second opportunity to try sprinting on turf as part of a 12-horse field assembled for Friday’s $100,000 Carle Place Stakes at Belmont Park. The Carle Place, named after a Long Island town not far from Belmont, is for 3-year-olds and run at seven furlongs.
Though both of Easy Time’s wins have come over synthetic surfaces, the son of Not This Time ran a solid second at 31-1 in the Franklin-Simpson at 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs. That race came after a fifth-place finish behind winner Public Sector in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes going a two-turn mile.
“After I ran him at Saratoga, I felt like maybe he’s a better sprinter,” Casse said. “That’s why we took him to Kentucky Downs, and he ran very well there.”
In discussing the seven furlongs of the Carle Place, Casse said “I think the distance suits him nicely.”
Casse will be hoping for some speed in the Carle Place and may get it with the likes of Rustler and Snow House in the field.
Smokin’ Jay upset the Allied Forces here at 15-1 for trainer Kelsey Danner on Sept. 17 and is back in this spot. Luis Saez was on Smokin’ Jay that day, but is on Easy Time for the first time Friday.
The New York-bred Ocala Dream is looking to continue trainer Tom Morley’s good run at this meet. Ocala Dream is one of eight winners sent out by Morley here this fall and is 3 for 4 at Belmont. He won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs here in June.
Ocala Dream’s lone loss in his last four starts came in a New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga, where he finished seventh. Morley said that race is a throw-out.
“He never rested up there and he’s a horse that sleeps a lot,” Morley said. “He was up there 2 1/2 weeks and he never laid down. I wasn’t surprised he did what he did when he got back here.”
Kawhi Me a River could offer value as a horse coming off just a maiden win here on Sept. 19. He drew post 11.
“I think he drew a really nice post, he’s real handy,” trainer John Terranova said. “I loved the way he finished the other day and he had a big gallop-out afterwards.”
Arzak finished fourth behind Smokin’ Jay in the Allied Forces after a slow start. He is back in this field.
Crowded Trade, second in the Gotham and third in the Wood Memorial, will try turf for the first time in this spot. Trainer Chad Brown worked Crowded Trade on the turf last Saturday at Saratoga and felt this was worth giving a try.
“He breezed well and he’s certainly bred on top for it,” Brown said. “We’ll try to change it up with that horse a little bit.”
Joel Rosario rides Crowded Trade from the rail.