Litfin's review: Tonalist scores triple-digit Beyer

101 Beyer for Tonalist

Tonalist (race 9, $4.40) broke a step slow and was at the back of the pack early but recovered to seize command with a burst of speed through the first quarter-mile, relaxed nicely once in control, and turned back all comers in a very impressive Peter Pan Stakes romp. The Tapit colt, who hadn’t been out since running second in a first-level allowance Feb. 22 behind subsequent Florida Derby winner Constitution, earned a 101 Beyer Figure in just his fourth career start for Christophe Clement, who indicated the Belmont Stakes could be next.

“What impressed me was the last eighth of a mile, when he opened up again,” said Clement, who earlier sent out Mr. Jenney (race 7, $4.60) to win a turf allowance route off a six-month layoff. “I was very worried about the wet track. I don’t breeze my horses on the wet track, so that was a complete question mark. He answered that pretty nicely. Let’s see how the horse comes out of it, but of course, we have to think about the Belmont Stakes. We’re New York people, and we’re at Belmont.”

Mid-afternoon cloudburst

A brief but heavy downpour soaked an already-muddy main track after race 4 and through the running of race 5. The surface was sloppy thereafter and appeared to speed up quite significantly for the last four dirt races, including the Peter Pan, when the track was rated approximately six to seven lengths faster than par.

As has been the case for the last three days over the off-going, horses mired down along the rail appeared to take the worst of it.

Outside rallies played well. Five of eight dirt winners were fifth or farther back early, notably C C’s Pride (race 5, 20.60), who was last of six to the stretch call before nailing an apparently home-free Your Move at the wire.

The turf was labeled “good” for the two races that stayed on, but bear in mind that race 1 was run pre-rain, while race 7 was run shortly after the rain squall.

Good numbers for $300k late pick four

The first Saturday late pick four with a $300,000 guarantee did robust business, as the pool swelled to $443,555.

It proved an excellent value for those who hooked up Clement’s two winning favorites with Salutos Amigos (race 8, $7.20) and V.E. Day (race 10, $14.20). The $2 payoff of $518 was almost exactly twice the win parlay of $258.

Horses to watch

HANDSOME DENNIS
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Last race: May 10, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 61

Southern California shipper was bet to favoritism for his local off-the-turf debut following a private purchase by David Jacobson, stumbled badly at the start, and recovered to finish gamely first time in blinkers; claimed and eligible for all sorts of conditions.