Following Sea returns from long layoff with something to prove
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Last seen 530 days ago finishing second to stablemate Americanrevolution in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, Following Sea returns to the races in a third-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race going seven furlongs that serves as the feature on Thursday’s Belmont Park card.
Following Sea ran in the Cigar on Dec. 4, 2021, after winning the Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont and running a troubled third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.
According to Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift Farm, which owns and bred the horse, Following Sea needed to have a small fragment surgically removed from an ankle.
“Even when dealing with some of the best equine surgeons in the world, things don’t always go the way we like,” Toffey said. “Then, some string of unfortunate little setbacks and so there was a point in the aftermath of the surgery that we had to give him quite a bit of time.”
Following Sea, though a Grade 2 winner, would become a more attractive stallion prospect if he could win a Grade 1 at some point this year.
“We were an unlucky trip in the Breeders’ Cup away from him being a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and therefore a stallion,” Toffey said. “He’s a horse that needs to do more. We’ve given him lots of time.”
Toffey noted that Following Sea spent a lot of time at Jake Pletcher’s farm in Ocala, Fla. Jake Pletcher is the father of Todd Pletcher, trainer of Following Sea, who returned him to the work tab on Feb. 13. Following Sea has nine breezes leading to his return.
“I know one of Todd’s [exercise] riders said he’s one of the smoothest-moving horses they ever sat on,” Toffey said. “Since he’s been back, that’s the same report we’ve gotten. Keep our fingers crossed for a good year ahead.”
John Velazquez will ride Following Sea from post 4 in a field of six.
Following Sea has had his most success when racing on the lead, and he looks like he could control things in Thursday’s race.
Tops the Chart came off a 4 1/2-month layoff in this same condition where he finished third behind Mr Phil and Stage Left at Aqueduct. Mr Phil came back to run last in Saturday’s $175,000 Runhappy Stakes. Stage Left won the King Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel and finished third in the Runhappy.
Three Two Zone won this condition last summer at Saratoga before failing to menace in four consecutive stakes races for trainer Ray Handal. Three Two Zone returns as a new gelding and is in for the $80,000 claiming race.
Gun It, a 7-year-old gelding by Tapit, doesn’t win much, but he is making his first start off the claim by Linda Rice, the leading trainer at this meet.
Synthesis and Chestertown complete the field.
First post Thursday is 3:05 p.m.
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