Jc's Shooting Star back on dirt for Saratoga Dew Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Handicappers are likely to overlook Jc’s Shooting Star, who is coming off a series of turf races and is going back to the main track for Monday’s $100,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes. But that could be a mistake, just as it was here last summer when Jc’s Shooting Star switched from turf to dirt to upset the Fleet Indian Stakes at odds of 18-1.

Jc’s Shooting Star is one of many contenders in the wide-open, nine-furlong stakes for older New York-bred fillies and mares, a field that also includes the multiple Grade 3 winner Flipcup and 2014 Saratoga Dew winner Carameaway.

Jc’s Shooting Star was still a maiden when rallying from just off the pace to a head decision in the Fleet Indian. She’s won twice since, with both victories coming on grass. She was narrowly defeated two starts back while dead-heating for second against a strong field of open, second-level conditioned-claiming and allowance rivals over the Belmont turf course.

“I like her a little better on the turf,” said trainer David Donk. “But she won last year over this track, at this distance, I don’t think it’s that tough of a race, and there’s a lot of pace in the field, so I wasn’t going to pass it up.”

Donk feels Jc’s Shooting Star has had excuses in two of her last three starts, including the Mount Vernon Stakes, in which she ran a troubled eighth while defeated only five lengths.

“Her last race was a little rough for her, being inside,” said Donk. “Even in the Mount Vernon, she got stopped and checked a couple of times. Her race against open company two starts back was very good, and if she runs the same kind of numbers, she’s going to be tough.”

Flipcup is the class of the field, with Grade 3 victories this year in the Arlington Matron and last fall in the Maple Leaf at Woodbine. But those wins came over synthetic surfaces. She’s won just one of her 11 tries over a fast main track and finished a distant third behind Hot Stones in the 2015 Saratoga Dew.

Carameaway prompted the pace before drawing away to an easy win in the 2014 Saratoga Dew but finished far back as the 7-5 favorite in defense of that title last summer after engaging in an early duel with the winner, Hot Stones. She figures to be part of an honest pace that may also include Perfect Freud and Jules N Rome.

Jules N Rome is one of two fillies entered by trainer Rudy Rodriguez in the Saratoga Dew, along with Literata, who has been holding her form well of late against open company and has not finished worse than third in her last nine starts.

Key Contenders

Jc’s Shooting Star, by Miracle Man

Last 3 Beyers: 81-86-77

◗ The last time she switched from turf to dirt, she finished third as a 14-1 outsider in the 2015 Empire Distaff Handicap at Belmont.

Flipcup, by Milwaukee Brew

Last 3 Beyers: 92-68-92

◗ She comes back in just four weeks, and with a couple of works on her résumé, after being eased as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron at Woodbine.

Carameaway, by Lawyer Ron

Last 3 Beyers: 60-74-63

◗ She’s winless in her last nine starts dating back 14 months to an allowance victory over statebred foes going a mile at Belmont.