Litfin: Graded turf stakes return on marathon card

Saturday, May 3, preview

Back on turf

While the stamina of 3-year-olds is tested in the Kentucky Derby, fans in New York also will have their endurance tested by a marathon card that spans almost eight hours.

First post is noon, post for race 12 is 7:40 p.m., and somewhere in between, the co-featured Beaugay and Fort Marcy stakes usher in the return of graded turf-stakes racing on the circuit.

The turf courses are labeled “good” for five grass races, with the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Beaugay (race 8) scheduled for the Widener course at 4:20 p.m. The Grade 3 Fort Marcy (race 10), lengthened this year from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles, will be run on the inner turf at 5:48.

While it’s impossible to predict how the turf will play, we’ll at least get an inkling from watching race 4 (seven furlongs on the Widener) and race 6 (six furlongs on the inner). If it seems as though speed is okay, Assateague could have a tactical edge as the potential controlling speed in the Beaugay as she makes her 5-year-old debut for Michael Matz off a sharp workout last week at Keeneland.

Watsdachances is an early scratch out of the Beaugay after she tied up Thursday morning.

Christophe Clement, who sent out Lubash to win last year’s Fort Marcy in stakes-record time on very firm ground, takes three shots at this renewal with Summer Front, the 5-2 morning-line choice; Speaking of Which, the beaten favorite in the race a year ago; and the well-traveled import Manighar, a multiple stakes winner in France and Australia who makes his U.S. debut at age 8.

Spot plays

KINGSFORD DRIVE (race 9): Freshened after two tough setups racing wide on the inner track, the latest try against a golden rail March 9. The useful sprinter has won or placed in all four previous starts on Belmont’s main track.

SPINIT TO WINIT (race 11): Comes up to this one-mile allowance nicely after beginning current form cycle with two sprints across town, the latest a good finish into the teeth of a strong speed bias.