Masseuse bred for stretchout

ELMONT, N.Y. - Though none of the established leaders of the filly and mare turf division are in Saturday's $250,000 New York Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park, a number of those on the cusp of joining the elite are among the eight entered in the Grade 2 race.

Graded stakes winners Vacare and Masseuse head the eight-horse field, which also includes the graded- or group-stakes-placed Jade Queen and Makderah. Solid runners Barancella, Hostess, La Dolce Vita and longshot For Always complete the field in the 1 1/4-mile New York.

Trainer Jimmy Toner has been eager to stretch Masseuse out in distance since she won the Beaugay at 1 1/16 miles in April. Dynaformer, the sire of Masseuse, is the sire of marathon stakes winners Barbaro, Perfect Drift, Film Maker, and Riskaverse.

"Dynaformers, they'll run all day," Toner said. "She's got a nice steady run then a quick burst. [At 1 1/4 miles] she has a chance to get into a nice rhythm then wait for the rider to knuckle on her."

Toner scratched Masseuse out of last Saturday's All Along at Colonial Downs due to an outside post and the fact she had coughed a couple of times during the week. Toner said Masseuse didn't miss any training time, though he elected not to work her last Sunday.

"She's fit enough," Toner said.

Masseuse is 3 for 4 over the turf at Belmont.

Edgar Prado, who rode Masseuse in the Beaugay, will be aboard Vacare in the New York. Vacare, a daughter of Lear Fan, suffered her first defeat last month when she finished third behind Citronnade and Price Tag in the Grade 1 Gamely Breeders' Cup at Hollywood Park.

Under the allowance conditions of this race, Vacare carries 123 pounds, spotting 3 to 7 pounds to her rivals.

Jade Queen was beaten only a half-length in last fall's Flower Bowl, run at the same 1 1/4 miles as the New York. Jade Queen was beaten three-quarters of a length in her season debut at 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Todd Pletcher expects her to improve with the race and the added distance.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes Makderah is a Grade 1-type filly. She certainly ran like it winning a second-level allowance race here on May 31.