Format has work cut out in turf stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Format makes her debut for trainer Kelly Breen in a challenging spot.

A recent purchase, jumps right into the Grade 3, $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Monmouth Park.

The Boiling Springs, at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, is a former fixture at The Meadowlands and is the final graded stakes of the meet that concludes on Sept. 26.

The race suffers from inopportune scheduling, as Belmont Park runs the Garden City Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf on the same afternoon. is cross-entered in both stakes.

While the Grade 1 Garden City drew many of the region's top grass fillies, the Boiling Springs still wound up with a competitive field.

takes a steep class drop. She ran fourth, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. She got a Beyer Speed Figure of 96, only two points below her career best, posted in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga. Joe Bravo will ride for trainer Christophe Clement.

made her North American debut a winning one with an allowance victory at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. River Belle, who began her career in England and Ireland, rallied from far back to get up by a length and earn a Beyer Figure of 88. Eibar Coa will ride.

The race includes several recent stakes winners, including Art Fan (winner of the Virginia Oaks) and Sabellina (Yaddo for New York-breds), as well as Format. is cross-entered in an overnight stakes at Belmont on Sunday.

The victory in the Snurb Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 8 in the slop extended Format's winning streak to two at Calder and facilitated the sale of the filly, formerly trained by Julian Canet.

"I've been looking for horses for some time, and she had just won a stakes," said Breen. "They were asking a pretty penny, and we paid it."

This will be Format's grass debut.

, sent out by Monmouth's leading trainer, Tim Hills, has not won since getting up by a head to win the Hollywood Wildcat stakes at Calder last November.

"She's had a long campaign," said Hills. "We're just looking for a spot where we can win a race with her."

Delta Sensation, Go Robin, Habiboo, and Present Danger complete the field.

* Our Miss Jones has an experience edge with a maiden victory at two turns over the track in the $60,000 Mongo Queen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at one mile and 70 yards.