Fresh Feline tries to stay in peak form after recent layoff
Belmont’s Wednesday card has a “turfy” theme. Six grass races are scheduled, the richest being race 8 at 1 1/4 miles on the inner course. The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms.
An optional-claiming route, race 8 carries a purse of $80,000 and drew seven fillies and mares, all of which are eligible for the second-level allowance condition. Several contenders arrive in peaking form, headed by morning-line favorite Fresh Feline. She won a preliminary optional claimer with a new top Beyer Speed Figure of 86 when stretched out to 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita in her last start.
American Girl seems likely to set the pace judging from a one-mile romp at Parx Racing last time out. She led throughout and widened steadily with speed to spare. She was scratched from an off-the-turf race at Parx on Monday.
The European import Regardez makes her second start in the United States. Trained by Chad Brown, Regardez finished second in a Group 3 stakes in Ireland last year. She will attract strong support after a useful fourth-place finish chasing stablemate Granny Mc’s Kitten first out in six months.
Evidently, Fashion Fund, and Selenite loom solid threats as well.
Evidently, owned and trained by Roy Lerman, comes off the two fastest races of her life, beginning with an 18-1 upset of the Distaff Turf from far off the pace at Tampa Bay Downs. “It was a mild surprise, but I thought this filly was better than she’s shown on paper,” said Lerman. “All she needed was a proper ride with enough pace up front.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Fresh Feline (Last 3 Beyers: 86-78-78)
◗ She returns from an 80-day layoff after getting through the first-level allowance ranks on the sixth attempt.
◗ Trainer John Shirreffs is 0-7-6 with 32 starters at Belmont dating back to last year’s spring-summer meet.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Fresh Feline. Trainer John Shirreffs is 27-1-2-1 with a $0.31 ROI over the past five years in turf races at Belmont Park (21-0-0-1 with riders other than Junior Alvarado). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Regardez (Beyer: 82)
◗ She stretches out to a more favorable distance after being compromised by a slow pace in her U.S. debut, which came at 1 1/16 miles.
◗ She was beaten a half-length in a Group 3 stakes last fall by Brooch, winner of this year’s Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl.
Evidently (Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-77)
◗ She rallied for third in the Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth last out despite encountering traffic in the stretch.
◗ Her two victories have come at 27-1 and 18-1.
Selenite (Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-76)
◗ This New York-bred drops in class after facing Grade 2 foes in the Sheepshead Bay and New York to begin her 4-year-old season. “She has a future as she gets older,” said trainer David Donk.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Selenite. Trainer David Donk is 22-5-4-2 with a $4.20 ROI over the past two years in turf routes on the NYRA circuit in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan