Litfin's preview: Selection Sunday, Syros lead rescheduled steeplechase

Last Wednesday’s steeplechase allowance that was cancelled due to inclement weather was brought back and redrawn as the first of 10 races Monday. Unlike the other six steeplechase days at the meet with a 12:25 p.m. first post, it will go off at the usual 1 p.m.

Jack Fisher holds a strong hand with the uncoupled geldings Selection Sunday, who has won or placed in all three starts over fences, and Syros, who has won over the flat and over the jumps this season.

Battle of the bridesmaids

An epic confrontation could be brewing in race 7, a starter allowance sprint with a field of seven that includes the prolific silver medalists Brendan G and Dyker Beach.

After showing little on the grass first time off a claim by Gary Gullo, Brendan G switches back to dirt, where he is 1-7-2 from a dozen outings. After being ridden by apprentices in 10 straight starts since last November, he gets a major change to Irad Ortiz Jr., who solidified his hold on second place in the standings over the past few days.

Through his last three starts, Dyker Beach has been second in the slop at Churchill Downs, second on a fast track at Belmont Park, and second in the mud as the 11-10 choice here, beaten by a neck on each occasion. He is now 1-9-1 from 18 starts, and gets a switch back to leading rider Javier Castellano.

Six in Summer Colony

Six fillies and mares go once around the main track in the $100,000 Summer Colony Stakes (race 9), with Natalie Victoria likely the one to catch dropping off a pace-setting try in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher for Michelle Nevin.

Endless Chatter was against a gold rail speed bias when she gave futile chase to Natalie Victoria at Aqueduct back Jan. 26, and she has not lost since then, having taken two allowance conditions that contributed to Chad Brown’s remarkable run at Parx Racing earlier this season.

The Ian Wilkes-trained Ambusher comes off a mild rally in a muddy renewal of the Shuvee, for which she earned a second consecutive Beyer Figure top of 91.

Horse to watch

MR. DISCREET
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Last race: Aug. 16, 4th
Finish: 5th by 5
Beyer: 64

Second-time starter checked along the inside around the clubhouse turn, steadied again at the three-quarter pole, and finished willingly in a roughly run maiden turf route for 2-year-olds.