Light Tactic facing some familiar rivals

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Richard Schosberg said he was pleasantly surprised by how well Light Tactic ran when she finished second to heavily favored By the Light in last month's Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga. It was Light Tactic's first start in seven months.

Schosberg has been equally pleased with how well Light Tactic has come out of the race, and he is wheeling her back on 20 days' rest to run in Sunday's $100,000 Schenectady Handicap at Belmont Park. Considering that four of her five rivals are coming out of the Union Avenue, Schosberg is less apprehensive about doing it than he was earlier in the week.

A sharp three-furlong blowout in 36.66 seconds by Light Tactic on Tuesday convinced Schosberg that running back on short rest is the thing to do.

"It's a concern, but if we weren't concerned about something, we'd have nothing to do," Schosberg said. "The last seven to 10 days she's been letting us know she's okay."

Light Tactic won 3 of her first 5 races. After finishing third in the Ruby Rubles at Aqueduct in January, Light Tactic developed some bruising in her right hind cannon bone and needed time off.

In the Union Avenue, Light Tactic chased the pace between horses before finding herself inside of Just Zip It in the stretch, Light Tactic altered course and came off the rail to get past Just Zip It, but couldn't hold off By the Light, who was winning for the sixth time in seven starts.

Light Tactic will break from the outside post in this six-horse field under Alan Garcia.

Just Zip It might have made the lead too soon when she wound up third in the Union Avenue, but her trainer, Billy Turner, was extremely happy with the performance.

"She's going to run back very well," Turner said. "I was very pleased the way she ran. I thought on paper a couple of those other girls were a whole lot better than her, but she tries and she's dead honest."

Salt Water Reign and Street Sass finished fourth and fifth in the Union Avenue. Salt Water Reign altered course to the inside in deep stretch while Street Sass broke slowly and was extremely wide turning for home.

Underserviced, the only 3-year-old in the field, could prove the one to catch under Kent Desormeaux. A Bob Baffert-trained filly, she comes off a second-level allowance win at Saratoga after blinkers were added for the first time.