Edge of Reality seeks repeat in Robellino Stakes

An overflow field is led by defending winner Edge of Reality in Saturday’s $100,000 Robellino Stakes at Penn National.

Edge of Reality, coming off a stiff class test in which he did well, looms large in this turf race for Pennsylvania-bred older horses.

After two unplaced efforts in New York to start this season for new trainer Tom Morley, Edge of Reality, a Grade 3 winner in 2013, headed home to face his fellow Pennsylvania-breds in last month’s Leemat Stakes on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic surface. But that race drew the multiple graded stakes winner Tom’s Ready. Edge of Reality made a wide rally but just missed by a head against the heavy favorite.

Jeremy Rose rode Edge of Reality in three races last year, including a one-length victory in the Robellino when the horse was trained by Graham Motion. He got back aboard the gelding for the Leemat and retains the mount.

Imply comes into the Robellino off a stakes win, having scored by 1 3/4 lengths in the Northern Fling at Presque Isle. The filly drew the rail under Julio Hernandez as she faces males for trainer Bernard Houghton.

Several horses in this field are trying turf for the first time, including Spring Quality, a lightly raced 5-year-old. The gelding has won three of his five starts for trainer Motion, most recently taking an optional-claiming event going 1 1/16 miles on a muddy track at Pimlico in May. Edgar Prado will be aboard for Spring Quality’s stakes debut.

Multiple stakes-placed Grasshoppin comes off a win in a salty allowance at Parx Racing over Just Call Kenny. He was fifth in the 2015 Robellino in his only turf try. Late Breaking News, who has won back-to-back races, was well beaten in his lone start on turf in 2015.