Hot City Girl back from vacation for Dancin Renee
Hot City Girl finished off her 3-year-old season strongly for trainer Linda Rice, winning three of her final four starts and just missing in her season finale, the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita. But after Hot City Girl wilted to finish sixth in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie on a frigid winter’s day at Laurel Park in February, the time had come for a rest.
On Sunday, Hot City Girl will make her return to the races at Belmont Park as the favorite in the $100,000 Dancin Renee, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred fillies and mares.
“After the California race, we were on the fence whether to run in the Fritchie,” Rice said. “And in 20/20 vision, we probably ran her one time too many. We’ve given her a three-month vacation that she really was in need of, and I’m very pleased with her now.”
Hot City Girl’s strong late-season campaign, which included wins in the Grade 3, $350,000 Charles Town Oaks and the Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel, coincided with Rice adding blinkers to her equipment.
Rice has put three June works into Hot City Girl, including two bullet five-furlong moves over the Belmont training track.
“I think I’ve got her ready enough for this,” Rice said of Hot City Girl, a half-sister to last year’s Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter, La Verdad, who also was trained by Rice.
If Hot City Girl runs well in the Dancin Renee and the race doesn’t take too much out of her, Rice said it is “possible” that Hot City Girl could come back in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss, a six-furlong handicap at Saratoga on July 27.
◗ The Sunday card also was to include the $100,000 Saginaw for New York-breds, but the sprint for 3-year-olds and up failed to fill Thursday. The racing office tried to bring it back for Monday but could not. They will try to fill it for Friday, July 8 now.
Dancin Renee, Race 4
Key Contenders
Hot City Girl, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 83-88-95
◗ Luis Saez picks up the mount on Hot City Girl from Jose Ortiz, who will be at Woodbine on Sunday to ride Scholar Athlete in the $1 million Queen’s Plate for trainer Graham Motion. Ortiz has ridden Hot City Girl in seven of her last nine races. He piloted La Verdad in 23 of her 25 starts.
Haveyougoneaway, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-89
◗ In her first start for trainer Thomas Morley and Sequel Racing, she ran very well to be second to the talented Bar of Gold in the one-mile Critical Eye Stakes for statebreds May 30.
◗ Previously campaigned in the Midwest, the 5-year-old competed in the filly-and-mare sprint-stakes series at Oaklawn Park over the winter, winning the American Beauty and Spring Fever and finishing second in the Carousel. She may have found a home in the New York-bred ranks.
Quezon, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 77-86-85
◗ She raced outside horses in the second flight of the Critical Eye and then dropped back over the muddy, sealed track entering the far turn. Expect her to rebound here for trainer Robert Ribaudo.