Fresh faces worth a look in turf dash

ELMONT, N.Y. – Those looking for a stranger in Friday’s seventh race at Belmont Park, a New York-bred first-level allowance, will have at least two from which to choose, as Official and Looksgoodfromhere return from layoffs in the six-furlong race on the inner turf.

Official, a 3-year-old daughter of Officer trained by David Jacobson, has not been out since July when she finished third behind Hot Squeeze at this condition at Saratoga. Hot Squeeze came back to win her next race.

Jacobson said owner Dennis Narlinger wanted to give Official some time off following that race, noting that the filly had had five races in nine weeks.

“She’s done everything I asked her to do,” Jacobson said. “She fits with those.”

Cornelio Velasquez rides Official from post 2.

Looksgoodfromhere has not been out since Dec. 29, when she came out of a first-level allowance race over Aqueduct’s inner track with an injury. Trainer Steve Klesaris has since purchased her privately, and the filly shows a couple of decent workouts leading up to her return.

“I acquired her for short money,” Klesaris said. “We’re trying to get her back to the races and get a line on her and go from there.

Klesaris is off to an excellent start at the meet with 4 wins from 15 starters.

Angel Arroyo rides Looksgoodfromhere from post 12.

Key contenders

Official (Last 3 Beyers: 70-71-75)

◗ In two starts on turf, she has finished second to Devilish Love – who won her next two starts – going a mile here and was third to a next-out winner Hot Squeeze going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on July 23.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Jacobson is just 1 for 7 with a $0.91 return on investment bringing horses back off a 61- to 180-day layoff in a turf sprint.

Looksgoodfromhere (Last 3 Beyers: 29-59-54)

◗ She shows one turf race, which came last October, that would make her competitive with these.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Klesaris is 3 for 22 with a $1.38 ROI bringing horses back in sprints off a layoff greater than 180 days. He is 0 for 1 in turf sprints.

Aesthetique (Last 3 Beyers: 70-69-69)

◗ Her only victory came over this course last October.

◗ She has two thirds and a fourth in her last three tries at this condition.

Skye Saratoga (Last 3 Beyers: 53-52-55)

◗ She tries turf for the first time after winning just once from six starts on dirt.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Tom Albertrani is just 2 for 22 but has a $2.02 ROI with horses trying turf for the first time in a sprint.