Litfin's preview: Soggy turf for two stakes

Friday, July 4, preview

ARTHUR PUTS DAMPER ON HOLIDAY

It wasn’t a direct hit, but after the fringes of Hurricane Arthur brushed Long Island last night, the turf courses – which were already labeled “yielding” for two races Thursday – absorbed more rain.

As a result, races 5 and 10 have been switched from the turf to the main track. Four other races remain on the grass as scheduled, including the Forbidden Apple (race 7) and the Perfect Sting (race 9), a pair of stakes at a mile on the Widener course.

The rain did no favors for Za Approval, as the 7-5 favorite on the morning line in the Forbidden Apple prefers firm ground. Bio Pro, coming off a sharp win on yielding turf in his second local start for Bill Mott, might be helped by the conditions.

With the exception of Alaura Michele, who has been far back twice on yielding and soft turf, the other fillies and mares in the Perfect Sting show a smattering of races on “good” turf, including Baffle Me, who just missed under such conditions at Saratoga last year.

TWO LONG-DISTANCE TURF RACES IN PICK FIVE

Refreshingly, there has been more of a focus on longer turf routes at the meet, and races 1 and 4 remained at 1 1/4 miles on the inner course as scheduled as of late morning.

The opener is quite a puzzle, as six of the seven lightly raced maiden fillies are within a length or so of each other based on their Beyer Speed Figures, and it’s unclear who the actual pacesetter might be. A handful of them have run once or twice on “good” turf, but this will be the initial experience on softer footing for all.

Race 4 is a $62,500 optional claimer with second-level allowance conditions, and four of the older males in the lineup have won at the trip at least once, including both parts of the Rudy Rodriguez-trained entry, Arc Above and Cheyenne Nation. Only one will start, as Cornelio Velasquez is named to ride both, and the best guess is that it will be Cheyenne Nation, an 8-year-old veteran who won on a yielding inner course here in 2011.

HORSE TO WATCH

GOOD LUCK GUS
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Last race: July 3, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 54
By freshman sire Lookin At Lucky, this first-time starter raced far back early, rallied wide, and finished strongly while jumping tire tracks in the stretch.