Hawkish points to Pennine Ridge Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hawkish was a strong allowance winner going a mile on turf at Aqueduct on April 15, and trainer Jimmy Toner is eager to see how the 3-year-old son of Artie Schiller will do going longer.

Thus, Toner plans to run Hawkish in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pennine Ridge at 1 1/8 miles at Belmont on June 2.

“I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t stretch out,” Toner said Friday at Belmont. “I’d like to find out, anyway. He was just awesome last week. He’s a good horse.”

In his 4 3/4-length allowance win, Hawkish ran a mile in 1:34.39 and earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ National Flag, the four-length winner of the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes on April 7, worked a solid half-mile in 48.89 seconds Friday at Belmont Park. He is preparing for the Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby card. National Flag is expected to be on a Sunday flight to Kentucky that is also expected to bring My Miss Lilly, the Gazelle winner, for the Kentucky Oaks.

Also on that plane will be Backyard Heaven, an impressive allowance winner at Aqueduct going a mile who is going to get his first two-turn opportunity in the Alysheba Stakes on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.