Familiar foes meet again in Restrainor Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Headed by Luxury Appeal, Crea’s Law, and Never Right Joey, the two-three-four finishers in the recent Sleepy Hollow Stakes, a field of 10 juvenile New York-breds entered Thursday’s $60,000 Restrainor overnight stakes at one mile, including entries from Repole Stable and Flying Zee Stable.

Flying Zee’s Luxury Appeal decisioned Todd Pletcher’s pair of Crea’s Law and Never Right Joey for second in the Sleepy Hollow, and the Johannesburg colt may rule a slight favorite over that uncoupled duo after posting a bullet workout at five furlongs Saturday for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Luxury Appeal is coupled with the Phil Serpe-trained Linear Motion, who won his debut against $50,000 maidens at Saratoga, before bearing out and finishing third of four in a starter allowance at Belmont Park.

Never Right Joey, a Tapit colt purchased in February for $100,000, is part of the Repole entry along with the Bruce Brown-trained Awesome Merger, who has won two in a row since running fifth behind Linear Motion in the slop first time out.

Never Right Joey accounted for two of Repole Stable’s meet-leading 13 winners at Saratoga, wiring a maiden sprint in the mud and taking the High Rock Springs overnight stakes as the odds-on favorite from the one-hole.

“We felt like we were the main speed and from the rail were going to let him run away from there and see what happened,” said Pletcher, who also entered Dogwood Stable’s Sky Music.

John Velazquez, fresh from a five-win afternoon Sunday, rode Crea’s Law and Sky Music in their maiden victories, but will stay aboard Never Right Joey.

Never Right Joey wound up fourth in the Sleepy Hollow in his first experience without the early lead, but he appears capable of getting the front in this match-up, with Luxury Appeal likely to be his closest pursuer.

Artie Luvsto Party, who added blinkers to win an off-the-turf maiden route by 14 lengths at Belmont for Tom Bush, switches back to dirt and reunites with Eddie Castro after trying open stakes company in the Gnome’s Gold on closing day at Belmont.

Ram, who is based at Laurel Park with legendary trainer King Leatherbury, ships in after winning back-to-back photos on turf and dirt in October.

Decesion Point steps up after a debut win at Belmont for Fair Hill-based trainer Mike Trombetta.

Innthewest completes the field.