A Lot back from layoff in allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – A Lot will be getting a late start to his 5-year-old season when he returns from a 342-day layoff in Friday’s one-mile turf allowance feature at Belmont Park.

A two-time stakes winner over the Belmont turf, A Lot is making his first start since he finished 10th, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Obviously, in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. After getting some time off following the Breeders’ Cup, A Lot returned to the work tab in June. He had some intermittent minor issues along the way, which forced his return to be later than anticipated.

“He had some setbacks and it’s been very frustrating getting the timing right when the horse is doing well and finding the right race,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Hopefully, we have that now.”

The Breeders’ Cup was the last of 12 consecutive stakes in which A Lot competed. The only previous time A Lot raced in allowance company was February 2015 at Gulfstream Park, a race he won by 3 3/4 lengths.

Trained by Bill Mott for his first 13 starts, A Lot has made his last four starts for Brown. In his first start for Brown, A Lot won the Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont in April 2016. He finished fourth in the Grade 3 Jaipur and second to Tourist in the Grade 1 Fourstardave before his Breeders’ Cup try. A Lot has one win and four seconds in seven starts at a mile.

“Seems like the right trip for him,” Brown said.

Brown also will be running Tombelaine who two starts back won in a similar spot as this by three-quarters of a length. Tombelaine and Vision Perfect are being offered for the claiming price of $100,000.

Ocean Knight scratched out of a dirt allowance race Thursday to give a try in this spot.

KEY CONTENDERS

A Lot, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 89-105-98

◗ Returns off an 11-month layoff with a steady work tab for a trainer who does well off the layoff.

◗ Drops to allowance company for the first time in two years.

◗ Reunited with Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for the horse’s last win.

Tombelaine, by First Defence
Last 3 Beyers: 95-101-95

◗ Returns from a two-month layoff after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes at Woodbine.

◗ Has a 2-1-1 record from four starts at Belmont Park, including an allowance win going a mile in July in which he beat, among others, Blacktype, who won Monday’s Grade 2 Knickerbocker Stakes here.

Changewilldoyagood, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 93-87-98

◗ Never discount quality speed over the Belmont turf course, and he pulled off a 29-1 upset in a second-level race going 1 1/16 miles here in July.

◗ Last race here, at 1 1/4 miles, may have been a tad too far.