Gold for the King staying on dirt for Ontario County Stakes

Gold for the King may have found the Grade 2 Woody Stephens a little much last time out, but he should feel right at home in the $50,000 Ontario County Stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday.

Trained by Charlton Baker, Gold for the King is a three-time stakes winner over New York-bred or -sired company. In his lone start at Finger Lakes, where Baker keeps a stable in addition to his Belmont Park string, Gold for the King won the $219,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity last October. He will be heavily favored Monday.

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Gold for the King, who is 4 for 8 for his breeder and owner, Francis Paolangeli, also has two Aqueduct stakes wins, a division of the New York Stallion Stakes in April and the Notebook last November. A son of Posse with earnings of $380,000, Gold for the King is out of the Gold Token mare Gold for the Queen, who won $239,000, including the New York Oaks and Susan B. Anthony at Finger Lakes, for Paolangeli.

The seven-horse Ontario County, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred 3-year-olds, also has lured Sal the Turtle, Pat On the Back, and Runaway Lute upstate from Belmont Park.

Ontario County, Race 7

Key contenders

Gold for the King, by Posse
Last 3 Beyers: 83-92-92

◗ T Loves a Fight, whom he defeated in April, and Bavaro, whom he was second to in a New York Stallion Stakes race in December, both were scheduled to make their turf debuts in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid division of the Stallion Stakes at Belmont on Sunday. Baker has opted to keep Gold for the King on dirt.

◗ Luis Perez, who is second in the Finger Lakes rider standings, picks up the mount.

Sal the Turtle, by Caleb’s Posse
Last 3 Beyers: 67-77-84

◗ He finished third in the open Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct in February for trainer Michelle Nevin. He returned from a three-month layoff to set or force the pace in the Mike Lee Stakes, won by T Loves a Fight, before tiring to finish fifth.

◗ Leading rider John Davila Jr. will be aboard for the first time.

Pat On the Back, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: 73-67-74

◗ In his only Finger Lakes start, he won the $120,000 Aspirant Stakes last September for trainer Ken McPeek. He went on to take the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow at Belmont the following month.

◗ He has made four of his last five starts in open company. He finished third in the Mike Lee last out.

◗ Dylan Davis is scheduled to come up from Belmont to ride.

Runaway Lute, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 0-48-72

◗ He will be making his first start since October for Gary Contessa.

◗ He began his career with two blowout wins, including the statebred Rockville Centre. He has since finished sixth in the Grade 1 Hopeful and last in the Sleepy Hollow.