Lady Kreesa, Rumble Doll get rematch in Thursday sprint feature
ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time they faced each other at Belmont Park, Lady Kreesa and Rumble Doll finished first and second in a second-level optional-claiming race restricted to New York-breds on July 12. Back at Belmont for the first time in three months, Lady Kreesa and Rumble Doll look like the major players in a $77,000, first-level, open allowance race that serves as the feature on Thursday’s nine-race program.
The six-furlong race drew six runners for the turf, and two horses are entered to run only if the race is transferred to the main track. Dry conditions are expected to prevail this week after more than four inches of rain fell here last week, forcing 33 of 35 scheduled turf races to the main track.
Lady Kreesa beat Rumble Doll here by 1 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong race July 12. Earlier in the year, coming off a layoff of nearly six months, Lady Kreesa won a first-level New York-bred race going six furlongs here.
“That’s her best game, three-quarters, seven-eighths; she runs very well here,” trainer David Donk said. “A little give in the ground helps her, too.”
After finishing second to Lady Kreesa, Rumble Doll cleared the second-level New York-bred condition by a nose at Saratoga on Aug. 12. Eighteen days later, she had the misfortune of running into Lady Shipman in the Smart N Fancy Stakes, in which Lady Shipman set a Saratoga turf-course record of 1:00.46 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Rumble Doll closed well to finish third, beaten five lengths.
“We ran into a freak last time,” said Robert Falcone Jr., the trainer of Rumble Doll. “She came out of that race really well and has worked well for this race.”
May Flowers, a maiden winner at Saratoga, has two seconds and a third in three starts over Belmont’s turf course, all in sprint races.
Regent’s House, who is trying turf for the first time, and Strong Incentive could show speed.
KEY CONTENDERS
Lady Kreesa (Last 3 Beyers: 66-76-83)
◗ She returns to Belmont Park and shortens up to a sprint after finishing ninth in the Yaddo Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 28.
“Too far,” Donk said of the distance.
◗ Lady Kreesa is 3-1-3 from nine starts at Belmont but 0-0-0 from five starts elsewhere.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Lady Kreesa. Is 3-2-0-1 going route to sprint on Belmont turf. – Mike Hogan
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Rumble Doll (Last 3 Beyers: 89-82-80)
◗ She has a strong closing kick but is often at the mercy of pace.
“Her running style is really exciting, but it hurts her a little bit, too,” Falcone said. “You need pace. I like the extra half-furlong; it helps her.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Regent’s House. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 25-2-4-2 with a $0.66 ROI over the past five years in sprints with non-debuters trying turf for the first time. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan