Following throat surgery, Cupid looks to rebound in Easy Goer

ELMONT, N.Y. – Will the real Cupid show up for Saturday’s $150,000 Easy Goer at Belmont Park?

The Cupid who led from start to finish to win the Grade 2 Rebel so impressively this spring likely would win the 1 1/16-mile Easy Goer, which drew a field of only five 3-year-olds and goes as the first race on the Belmont Stakes program. The Cupid who ran 10th after forcing the early issue in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby would not.

Cupid had throat surgery to repair an entrapped epiglottis following the Arkansas Derby. Now, trainer Bob Baffert seems confident that the son of Tapit can get back on the winning track in the Easy Goer.

“He looks good, and he’s training well since the surgery,” Baffert said. “I just don’t know what he’s going to do around one turn. He’s certainly a different animal going two turns. I was hoping to have him ready for the Belmont, but I thought he was still a work or two away, and I didn’t want to do that to him. But we wouldn’t have brought him up there Saturday if we didn’t feel he would run well. I just can’t believe it’s the first race. I’m never in the first race.”

Each of Cupid’s four rivals in the Easy Goer enters the race off victories, including Rally Cry, who defeated older horses in a first-level allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths going 1 1/16 miles here April 30. Rally Cry earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, matching the number Cupid received for his win in the Rebel.

“He’s always trained like a nice horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “That was a good allowance win against older horses. I’m just hoping he can take another step forward.”

Economic Model is already Grade 2-placed, having finished second behind the speedy Awesome Banner while making his 3-year-old debut in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes last winter at Gulfstream Park. He easily defeated a field of 3-year-olds, winning his entry-level allowance condition over a sloppy track by four widening lengths here May 4.

Hit It Once More, a New York-bred, is in peak form, having won each of his last two starts, while Race Me Home exits a game maiden victory going nine furlongs at Churchill Downs.

KEY CONTENDERS

Cupid, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 78-95-88

◗ Baffert said that although Cupid led the Rebel from gate to wire, he doesn’t believe he has to be in front Saturday. “The way he’s been working, I don’t think he needs to be on the lead.”

Rally Cry, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 95-72-71

◗ Pletcher said Rally Cry never got to run his race when finishing sixth in his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Gotham. “He got hung wide and was out in the worst part of the track that day,” Pletcher said. “I think his last race is a much better indication of what he’s capable of.”