Hot sprinters clash in True North

ELMONT, N.Y. – Always Sunshine and Catalina Red look to continue their ascension in the sprint division when they square off in Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 True North Stakes at Belmont Park.

The two 4-year-olds, who have combined to win seven of their last nine starts, were scheduled to meet three-time Grade 1 winner Private Zone, but that horse will have to scratch. According to New York State Gaming Commission steward Steve Lewandowski, the trainer of Private Zone, Brian Lynch, “can’t participate” in racing.

Lee Park, a spokesman for the gaming commission, would not give a reason for Lynch’s ineligibility, saying only, “The commission determined administratively he is not eligible to be listed as trainer on race day.”

Always Sunshine, a 4-year-old son of West Acre, has won four of his last five starts, including a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap on Preakness Day, May 21.

“The horse came out of his race at Pimlico super; he feels great. It’s a logical step up,” said Ned Allard, the trainer of Always Sunshine. “I guess we’ll find out what we have.”

Allard said that Always Sunshine was “intimidated by the game” in his first few races. With racing experience and maturity, Always Sunshine has developed into a professional runner.

“He just started getting better and better,” Allard said. “Now, he’s a really nice, relaxed racehorse who can sit a little bit off the pace. If he’s in tight, it doesn’t matter; if it’s mud, it doesn’t matter. He’s gotten to be a talented racehorse. How talented? We’ll find out.”

Always Sunshine will break from the outside post under Frankie Pennington and 124 pounds.

Jorge Navarro, the trainer of Catalina Red, trained Private Zone for six of his seven starts in 2015, including a victory in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga. He said he had been looking forward to facing his former pupil.

“I thought Catalina Red is capable of beating him,” Navarro said.

In his only start for Navarro, Catalina Red scored a one-length upset at 14-1 in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Catalina Red, previously trained by Chad Stewart, had won a minor sprint stakes at Tampa Bay Downs four weeks earlier in his first start off a seven-month layoff.

Since the Churchill race, Catalina Red has been based at Monmouth Park, where he breezed twice.

“The horse is training really good going into the race,” Navarro said. “He’s a small horse, but he knows where the wire is, and he is all ready for that race.”

Javier Castellano will ride Catalina Red from post 5.

Without Private Zone in the field, the pace figures to come from Holy Boss on the rail and Dads Caps from post 4. Joking, who has a 4-3-0 record from seven starts, completes the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Always Sunshine, by West Acre

Last 3 Beyers: 103-102-99

◗ Steadily improving 4-year-old has won four of his last five starts – all at the True North distance of six furlongs – and ran well when second to Salutos Amigos in the Grade 2 Tom Fool in March, his lone loss during that span.

“The day he finished second in New York in the Tom Fool, he didn’t have the best racing luck and still made a good effort out of it,” Allard said. “I kind of like his outside post. There’s plenty of early speed in the race, and hopefully he can sit off them, kick, and get the money.”

◗ Pennington is 0 for 6 at Belmont Park.

Catalina Red, by Munnings

Last 3 Beyers: 105-96-65

◗ Coming off a career-best effort in winning the Churchill Downs Stakes in his first start for Navarro.

◗ Looks like he could work out a stalking trip from post 5.

Holy Boss, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-100

◗ With Private Zone out of the race, he could become the speed of the race after breaking from the rail.

◗ Finished fifth after contesting the pace in the Churchill Downs Stakes.

◗ Reeled off three consecutive victories last summer, including the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.