J to the Croft meets Fabulous Kid in turf feature
The third time may be the charm for J to the Croft, who has run well twice at double-digit odds at the meet and seeks to clear the first-level allowance hurdle against seven other turf-meant 3-year-olds in Friday’s eighth race.
First post for the “Party at the Park” program is 3 p.m. Eastern; race 8, scheduled for the Widener turf at seven furlongs, goes at 6:37.
J to the Croft has some versatility in terms of running style. He just missed after leading to deep stretch at 11-1 on May 15 and was faced with a difficult setup when third three weeks ago, as the stakes-bound Tourist controlled the pace and rocketed the final quarter-mile in a blistering 22.49 seconds.
J to the Croft is nicely positioned on the outside for Steve Klesaris, who has sent out nine exacta finishers from 16 starters at Belmont.
Fabulous Kid, who was not persevered with late after vying for the early lead with Tonalist in a sloppy renewal of the Peter Pan Stakes, adds blinkers and tries turf as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
“He was just in a little over his head that day,” trainer Jimmy Toner said. “He’s had some good grass gallops, a couple nice breezes, and maybe with the Lemon Drop Kid on the bottom and the way he goes, he’ll take to the turf. We’ll try something different with him.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Fabulous Kid. Small sample, but trainer James Toner is 2 for 3 with $11.86 ROI the past five years with horses trying turf for the first time and going route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Also adding blinkers is Harpoon, who last wore them in a pair of runner-up finishes on dirt last fall for Todd Pletcher, one of those starts against Nashua Stakes winner Cairo Prince.
Unlocked looms as the X-factor after walloping maidens by five lengths at almost 25-1 first time out at Tampa Bay Downs in early spring. He has since changed hands and stretches out from five furlongs for new trainer Pat Reynolds.
◗ An overflow field of 11 juvenile fillies entered race 3, a five-furlong dash in which Angela Renee and High Dollar Woman are expected to vie for favoritism.
Angela Renee, trained by Pletcher, is a full sister to $1.8 million earner To Honor and Serve, who was a second-out maiden winner at Belmont with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure at 2.
High Dollar Woman, by freshman sire Super Saver, fetched $675,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. in March after working a quarter-mile in 21 seconds flat.
Sunday Sonnet, a half-sister to dual Grade 3 turf stakes winner Pianist, also bears watching in a potentially loaded race.