Integrity captures off-the-turf Elusive Quality Stakes

After several inches of rain Wednesday, all three scheduled turf races on Belmont Park’s opening-day program were moved to the main track, including the $100,000 Elusive Quality Stakes.

The surface switch triggered 10 scratches out of the Elusive Quality, whittling the field to just four, and odds-on favorite Integrity ($3.70) set a pressured pace throughout to prevail over 2-1 second choice Tenango, despite drifting out in deep stretch under Javier Castellano.

Integrity ran seven furlongs in 1:22.90 on a drying-out track that had gone from muddy to good to fast through the day. Integrity remained unbeaten in three starts as a 4-year-old for trainer Chad Brown.

Tenango held second over Cease. Emkanaat trailed throughout.