Key contest points out contenders in two races

ELMONT, N.Y. – The eighth race on June 30 at Belmont Park has already produced two next-out winners and could have a profound impact on Thursday’s nine-race card at Belmont Park.

Roca Rojo, who won that seven-furlong race in June, looks like an odds-on favorite in Thursday’s third race, a third-level allowance race at a mile over the Widener turf course.

Lady Kreesa, who finished third in that June 30 race, is a contender in Thursday’s eighth, a second-level/optional $62,500 claimer at seven furlongs, also over the Widener.

Roca Rojo, an Irish-bred daughter of Strategic Prince, rallied from last of seven on June 30 to win her U.S. debut and her first start off a 13-month layoff. She came back in the De La Rose Stakes on Aug. 6 and finished fourth as the favorite.

“Her first race in this country was excellent,” trainer Chad Brown said. “We ran her two turns at Saratoga and didn’t get a trip at all. We freshened her up since, and this seemed like a logical spot – back at Belmont, a course she ran well over.”

In the eighth, Lady Kreesa is also returning from Saratoga to Belmont, where she has recorded all four of her victories. Following the Belmont race, she ran twice going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, finishing fourth both times but beaten only a length Aug. 20. (She was disqualified and placed fifth for interference.)

In her first Saratoga race, trainer David Donk said, Lady Kreesa “was impeded, or she would have been first or second.”

Lady Kreesa will break from post 2 under John Velazquez, and that should enable her to get covered up, something Donk believes would benefit her.

Welcoming, Insta Erma, and the Argentine-bred Connie Nistel look to be the major contenders in the eighth race.

Race 8

Key Contenders

Lady Kreesa, by Stonesider

Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-84

◗ Does her best work at Belmont Park, but her two races at Saratoga were better than when she raced at the Spa in 2015.

“She’s a bit improved,” Donk said. “Her numbers are improving, and she’s a little more consistent.”

◗ Her most recent start at Belmont came in the June 30 race. The runner-up from that race, Fair Point, went on to win the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga, and the last-place finisher, Sparkle Factor, won a $50,000 claimer at the Spa.

Welcoming, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-67

◗ Her first two starts on turf were in stakes and resulted in third-place finishes behind Lightstream in the Soaring Softly and Ancient Secret in the Wild Applause. Ancient Secret came back to win the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga.

DRF FORMULATOR: Over the last two years, trainer Christophe Clement is 7 for 34 at Belmont with a $2.13 return on investment when bringing horses back off a layoff of 60 to 180 days. This is Welcoming’s first start in 88 days.

Insta Erma, by Pioneerof the Nile

Last 3 Beyers: 86-69-35

◗ Hasn’t run since winning a first-level allowance going 7 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream on April 10.

◗ She recorded her maiden win at the 2015 Belmont fall meet for claiming $75,000.