Litfin's review: Favorites dominate throughout day

Chalk parade

Rain overnight forced three races off the grass, and scratches decimated the program. The first five races contained 22 betting interests, and favorites swept them all for a pick five that paid $21.90 for 50 cents.

All told, favorites won seven of the first eight events, the exception being when second choice Regulus ($4.70) wired 3-5 Dan and Sheila in the off-the-turf seventh.

Even when Frost Jordan ($15.20) won the last, paying more than twice as much as any of the day’s previous winners, a box of the first four betting choices was all that was needed to catch the trifecta and superfecta.

Good and yielding

The main track was a harrowed “good” throughout the day and played fairly.

The turf was yielding, and the Sheepshead Bay Stakes was moved from the inner to the Widener course.

Mott, Rosario sweep grass races

Bill Mott and Joel Rosario teamed up to win both grass races in wire-to-wire fashion.

Bio Pro (race 4, $4.20), making his second start on the circuit following a private purchase, took a third-level optional claimer.

Riposte (race 9, $7.20) posted her first victory in the U.S., stretching out after three defeats at 1 1/8 miles to give Mott his fourth win in the Sheepshead Bay.

“The first two times she ran [in the U.S.], we were going nine furlongs, and the fractions were very, very slow,” said Mott. “She found it hard to close into those fractions. I think [being on the lead] was just the way the race came up. I thought [Irish Mission] would show more speed, but the pace didn’t really develop.”

Horse to watch

SALISBURY KNIGHT
Trainer: Jimmy Jerkens
Last race: May 24, 10th
Finish: 4th by 4 3/4
Beyer: 69

Following up a maiden win with blinkers on, this $290,000 New York-bred by Bernardini was a bit fractious in the gate, bumped at the start, and ran evenly in a decent first try against allowance horses.