Litfin's review: Ups and downs

Sunday, May 25 review

HIGHS AND LOWS

The ups and downs of the game were felt by Starlight Racing and Todd Pletcher in the matter of just a few hours. Their Belmont Stakes hopeful Intense Holiday suffered a condylar fracture in a morning workout, but it certainly seems like they have a terrific prospect in Tiz Dark (1st, $2.30), who garnered his maiden win second time out by nearly seven lengths.

Tiz Dark, a 3-year-old colt by Tiznow, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.14 on a main track that was lightning fast, and earned a Beyer Figure of 95.

It was the 10th meet win for Pletcher, putting him in a tie for the lead with Chad Brown.

CONCISE SHOWS NEW DIMENSION

Concise, who last year rallied from last to be beaten less than a length in the Lake Placid and followed with a third in the Grade 1 Garden City, displayed a new dimension in her second start at 4, taking a 10-furlong preliminary turf allowance on the lead beneath Joel Rosario.

It was the third straight grass win on the engine for Rosario, who on Saturday never looked back with Bio Pro in a third-level allowance and Riposte in the Sheepshead Bay.

PERSAUD ENDS SKID

Jesses Giant Dunk (6th, $5) put blinkers back on and overpowered restricted claimers to snap a 66-race skid for trainer Randi Persaud which dated back to April 3.

The gelding, who earned a new Beyer top of 77, was claimed by Jeremiah Englehart.

SEA QUEEN SURPRISES

Sea Queen, ($39.60) was the rank outsider against five rival 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Wonder Again, but no one told the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, who was making her stakes debut after an allowance win at Keeneland. She edged Minorette by a half-length under good handling from Irad Ortiz Jr., who expanded his meet lead to 21-16 over Javier Castellano.

Sea Queen’s next objective is the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational on Saturday, July 5.

“The farther the better,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “She’s a galloper.”

HORSES TO WATCH

MARK MY WAY
Trainer: Linda Rice
Last race: May 25, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 1/2
Beyer: 77

Put away for the winter after one try on Aqueduct’s inner dirt, he returned to turf and raced three wide throughout, missing second in a photo. On a good development pattern after moving forward a few lengths off maiden win last fall.