ELMONT, N.Y. – Civil Union had her coming-out party last year in the River Memories, the first of three stakes victories for the mare that included a score in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl. Trainer Shug McGaughey is hoping to use Sunday’s $150,000 River Memories as a bounce-back race for Civil Union, who has been disappointing in the first two starts of her 6-year-old campaign. The River Memories, scheduled for 1 1/2 miles on the outer turf, is the featured event on Belmont Park’s nine-race closing-day card. First post is moved up to 12:30 p.m. as afterward NYRA begins the move up to Saratoga, which opens Thursday. Eight were entered in the River Memories, but Luck Money was expected to run in Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park. Thankful was entered to run only if the River Memories is moved to the main track. In two starts this year, Civil Union has finished next to last in the Grade 3 Beaugay and Grade 2 New York Stakes, both at Belmont. The Beaugay was run at 1 1/16 miles, a distance that McGaughey said is too short for Civil Union. A half-hour before the New York, on June 4, the skies opened and heavy rain softened the turf course. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “I don’t think she handled it,” McGaughey said. “I thought she was going really good down the backside, then she sort of fell apart. She’s been training a lot better than she had been training, she looks a lot better. I don’t think the turf will be too soft Sunday, I think she’ll be fine.” McGaughey would like to see Civil Union closer to the pace than she has been in her first two starts. Jose Ortiz, who had Civil Union close to the pace in last year’s River Memories, is back aboard for the first time since. “I’d like for her to be more involved,” McGaughey said. Trainer Christophe Clement sends out both Mutamakina and Call Me Love in the River Memories. He thought Mutamakina had too wide a trip when she finished sixth in the New York. Mutamakina won last year’s Grade 3 Red Smith and earlier this year finished second to Magic Attitude in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay. Call Me Love, winless in six stakes tries over the last 13 months, is coming off an allowance win going 1 1/16 miles here May 23. She was a two-time winner at 1 1/4 miles in Europe. Virginia Joy is seeking to rebound from a fourth-place finish in the New York. Trainer Chad Brown said Virginia Joy wants firmer ground than was the case in the New York. Brown also said that in the New York, Virginia Joy was “a little closer to the pace” than usual. There is little pace in the River Memories, which could comprise her preferred trip. Pallas Athene and Delta’s Kingdom complete the field.