Good Luck Gus improving at right time
Two-year-olds begin the stakes action on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park in the Sleepy Hollow for both sexes and the Maid of the Mist for fillies. The two $250,000, one-mile races will have their 18th runnings Saturday and lead off an all-stakes early pick four.
Seven colts and geldings entered the Sleepy Hollow (race 2). New York Breeders’ Futurity winner Good Luck Gus will break from the outside post and take on Todd Pletcher’s promising pair of Ostrolenka and Bullheaded Boy, who are uncoupled in the wagering.
Good Luck Gus was a work in progress when he was unveiled in July by Rudy Rodriguez, jumping tire tracks in deep stretch and closing fast for second. He did the same thing the second time out when much the best in the slop at Saratoga.
After finishing fourth in the Funny Cide Stakes, Good Luck Gus put blinkers on for the $252,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes two weeks ago, and the result was a win by better than five lengths.
“He was working very well and seemed a lot more focused with the blinkers,” said Rodriguez, who entered the last two weeks of the Belmont Park fall meet third in the standings and with the top win percentage among trainers with at least five victories.
Ostrolenka spun his wheels on a speed-favoring, sloppy track on closing weekend at Saratoga in his first start but stretched out to a mile here four weeks later and widened at every call to graduate by more than 14 lengths, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
Bullheaded Boy edged the Chad Brown-trained Market Conduct for the runner-up spot in a muddy renewal of the Bertram F. Bongard last month, and they will stretch out a furlong for the rematch Saturday.
Breakin the Fever comes off a lengthy maiden win in the slop here two weeks ago for Debra Breed, who bred, owns, and trains the Roaring Fever gelding.
KEY CONTENDERS
GOOD LUCK GUS (Last 3 Beyers: 81-71-53)
◗ The colt by first-crop sire Lookin At Lucky is the only two-time winner in the field.
OSTROLENKA (Beyers: 90-46)
◗ He is the only member of the field to have won at one mile.
BULLHEADED BOY (Last 3 Beyers: 71-73-76)
◗ He will add blinkers after lunging, hitting the side of the gate, and bumping a rival at the start of the B.F. Bongard.
Maid of the Mist
Nine juvenile fillies square off in the Maid of the Mist (race 3). Temper Mint Patty breaks from the outside and is a clear favorite after showing gameness and versatility to win both of her starts.
“I wish they were all as easy to train as her,” said trainer Dale Romans.
Romans saddled the daughter of Congrats for an off-the-pace maiden win at six furlongs, followed by a romping score in the Joseph A. Gimma by more than 13 lengths over a sloppy track here. Temper Mint Patty earned an 89 Beyer in the Joseph A. Gimma, which has her connections thinking about such prestigious races as the Kentucky Oaks down the road.
“I thought in her first race she showed a lot of talent,” said owner Mark Stanley, “but she matured before [her last race] in just three weeks. Hopefully, before the first Friday in May, she’ll be even better.”
Quezon splashed to a six-length win in a muddy, off-the-turf sprint for trainer Bobby Ribaudo first time out and may be the biggest threat if she can replicate that form on a fast track.
Hard to Stay Notgo and Myfourchix, who were a distant third and fourth in the Joseph A. Gimma, will test Temper Mint Patty once again.
KEY CONTENDERS
TEMPER MINT PATTY (Beyers: 89-74)
◗ She is the only entrant to have won twice.
◗ Her dam, His Beauty, won the Jena Jena Stakes on Belmont’s turf in 2005.
QUEZON (Beyer: 81)
◗ Her debut win came against The Lewis Dinner, who was 3-5 that day and subsequently was entered to run in Thursday’s ninth race.