Litfin's preview: Plenty of turf-to-dirt opportunities
Horseplayers with an affinity for the turf-to-dirt angle will find ample opportunities throughout Sunday’s card, beginning with the opener, a $20,000 maiden claimer where no fewer than seven of the eight fillies and mares entered are coming off a grass race.
The exception is That’s No Limit, who appeared to dislike a sloppy track last week, and ran a couple races on Aqueduct’s main track last spring that could make her competitive.
Five of the $40,000 New York-bred maiden claimers in race 4 ran on turf most recently, with the trio of Blue Shark, Fictionalchacter and Jacob’s Here boasting the best Beyer Figures on dirt.
Among the two New York-bred maidens going turf to dirt in race 6 is Persuasive Devil, whose last two races on the main track at Saratoga and Belmont were against subsequent stakes winners Saratoga Heater (Bertram F. Bongard) and Ostrolenka (Sleepy Hollow).
Swakopmund is the lone turf-to-dirt angle play in race 8, a $35,000 claimer at seven furlongs; she was beaten a neck at the same distance when claimed from her most recent start on dirt at Saratoga three races back.
CLASS RELIEF
North Star Boy and Sky Blazer, who were necks apart when beaten less than three lengths by Wise Dan in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga, land in an easier spot in race 7, a $75,000 optional claimer scheduled for 1 1/6 miles on turf.
North Star Boy has been idle since the Aug. 30 Baruch, which may be construed as a positive sign, since he won on the Big A course exactly one year ago when brought back from a 50-day layoff by trainer Niall Saville, who on Saturday sent out the import Miss Atomic Bomb ($29.80) to win her U.S. debut off a 57-day break.
The last time Sky Blazer ran in an optional race with third-level allowance conditions for Barclay Tagg, the result was a last-to-first score at 8-1 at Gulfsteam Park.
War Correspondent, who was sidelined for over a year before winning his U.S. debut at Monmouth Park, was cross-entered by Christophe Clement in Sunday’s $200,000, Grade 2 Autumn Stakes, and is expected to run in that race on Polytrack.
HORSE TO WATCH
NUBIN RIDGE
Trainer: Paulino Ortiz
Last race: Nov. 7, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 3
Beyer: 84
Put in a nice rally to reach contention approaching the furlong grounds, but flattened out late while racing on a muddy and deep rail, and flattened out late; may prove a prescient claim.