Endless Circle still looks good in slightly revamped Easy N' Dirty

ELMONT, N.Y. – Post positions and field composition may have changed, but one thing remains the same about Wednesday’s $70,000 Easy N’ Dirty Stakes at Belmont Park: Endless Circle remains the horse to beat.

Originally carded for Friday, the Easy N’ Dirty was rescheduled and redrawn for Wednesday after Friday’s card was canceled due to heavy rains and strong winds. Rain remained in the forecast Monday through Wednesday, but it is unlikely to force a cancellation.

A wet track certainly wouldn’t be a hindrance to Endless Circle, who comes off a four-length romp in the slop in the John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5. Since then, trainer Rudy Rodriguez has had a hard time finding a race to fill for Endless Circle, who has won 3 of 4 races since Rodriguez claimed him for $14,000 on April 16.

“He ran a big race, but I think he’s a good horse on any surface,” said Rodriguez, who is the leading trainer at this meet with 10 wins from 25 starters.

Endless Circle had post 3 when the race was originally drawn, but will now break from the rail. He won a second-level allowance race going six furlongs over this track from the rail on June 16. Edgar Prado rides.

Last week, the race drew eight runners. When re-drawn for Wednesday only seven were entered, but Driven by Success is going to scratch after running in Saturday’s Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational. His stablemate, Dr. W, will run for owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Good Card, entered in this race last week, ran on Sunday.

The 3-year-old General Maximus is entered in the Easy N’ Dirty, but on Monday he was also entered in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa.

General Maximus won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs in June. The horse hasn’t run since finishing last in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga, but he came out of that race with a respiratory infection.

“Since we got back from Saratoga he’s been doing really well,” trainer John Terranova said. “I know we wouldn’t have beat Discreetly Mine, but we would have run a lot better if he was 100 percent.”

Be Bullish has not finished worse than third in his last seven dirt starts. He came from just off the pace to win the Leon Reed Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes last out. He is 0 for 10 on a wet track with 3 seconds and 2 thirds.

The speedy Ezzy completes the field.