Fanshell Beach will likely be up front in Stewart Manor

ELMONT, N.Y. – Fanshell Beach was not part of the blanket finish in the Grade 3 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland last month where the top four finishers were separated by a neck at the wire.

But Fanshell Beach wasn’t too far behind, finishing fifth, beaten a length in a race where, early on, it looked like she wasn’t going to do much running. After failing to draw into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint two weeks ago, Fanshell Beach will take on 11 rivals in Saturday’s $175,000 Stewart Manor Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

In the Indian Summer, Fanshell Beach, under Jose Ortiz, didn’t show the speed that she used to win two of her first three starts, including the Riverside Rush Stakes run over yielding turf at Ellis Park.

“Jose rode her, she didn’t show a lot of speed way from there, so he sat on her,” Ward said. “She’s always been up in the forefront. All of a sudden, he took her out and ‘whoosh!’ here she came. We may be using the same tactics [Saturday]. I’ll let the jockey decide.”

Antonio Fresu will ride Fanshell Beach for the first time. Fresu has ridden two winners from five starts for Ward at this meet.

“The races he rode for me were awesome,” Ward said.

Ward said he is not concerned about the possibility of soft ground for Fanshell Beach.

“She’ll handle anything, that girl,” Ward said.

Course condition is a concern to trainer Miguel Clement, who is wheeling back Grade 3 Matron Stakes winner Brickyard Belle just two weeks after she finished 11th in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Clement doesn’t believe Brickyard Belle handled the turf at Keeneland that day.

“The moment the gates opened, I thought she was spinning her wheels,” Clement said. “She was never comfortable, she never let herself down. She’s a filly that usually travels strongly in the bridle, she explodes. Not only did she not explode from the quarter pole to the wire, but was never traveling at any stage of the race. I think it’s solely due to the ground more than ability.”

Pink Venom, trained by John Murtagh in Ireland, brings a three-race win streak into the Stewart Manor. Pink Venom, a daughter of Soldier’s Call, was purchased privately by Team Valor International following her most recent win. Pink Venom is expected to stay in the U.S. with Amelia Green after this race.

Though Pink Venom has handled soft and yielding turf in Ireland, Murtagh said he told Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, “I think she’ll handle better ground in America.”

Since arriving in New York a week ago, Pink Venom has been training over the Tapeta track at Belmont Park.

“She gets over it good,” Murtagh said. “She’s pretty solid. Nothing seems to faze her.”

Jamie Spencer is in from Europe to ride Pink Venom.

Yuquot was Group 2-placed in France for trainer Ed Monfort. She goes out for the first time for Joe Sharp on Saturday and shows a solid work pattern at Belmont. Flavien Prat is named to ride.

Bittersweet Memory, fourth in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at 1 1/16 miles, will sprint for the first time for trainer Kelsey Danner. Debut winners Zomoroda, Battle Queen, and Queen Celine add depth to the field.