Go for Jan a threat on turf or dirt

ELMONT, N.Y. – The weather was supposed to turn warmer and brighter by Thursday, which may enable the $70,000 Glowing Honor to remain on the inner turf course as scheduled. The six-furlong overnight stakes drew a field of 11 fillies and mares, along with two more for the main track only.

Go for Jan, a versatile 3-year-old filly making her first start since running fourth to Rose Catherine at Monmouth Park on July 31, looms a solid threat on turf or dirt for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

“She was in against tough company that day” – Rose Catherine is 6 for 6 in turf sprints after winning the recent $200,000 Turf Amazon) “and the ground was extremely firm,” said Kenneally, who entered the week with a glitzy 4-1-1 mark with 7 meet starters including My Jen’s upset of the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom.

“It’s been going really well,” said Kenneally said of his recent success. “I think with the way Go for Jan rated and finished to win her two allowance races at Churchill Downs, she’ll love the turf at Belmont and run well. Most likely, she’ll run if the race comes off, but hopefully the weather will pick up by Thursday and we’ll be on the turf.”

Solo Piano, a Juddmonte Farm homebred with virtually identical Beyer Speed Figure tops on turf and dirt, looks like a big threat for Bill Mott no matter the footing. The 5-year-old mare’s only turf sprint came in her third career start, a third down the hillside course at Santa Anita against the ill-fated multiple stakes winner Tuscan Evening.

Solo Piano was a front-running winner routing on Belmont’s inner turf last year for the late Bobby Frankel. In her return to New York for Mott at the spring meet, she set the pace in the Grade 2 Shuvee before fading to fourth.

Granted Tiger, a three-time winner on Belmont turf for Allen Jerkens, returns from a 73-day layoff. She ran well off a similar absence last fall here, when second over yielding turf.

Quebrada Shiner, claimed for $35,000 two back by Bobby Barbara, is the morning-line choice after rallying late behind Rose Catherine in the Lena Spencer at Saratoga.

Glitter City and Gemswich Park, a pair of uncoupled Tom Albertrani-trained fillies, also return from layoffs.

Simply Spiteful is the one to catch if the race comes off.