Mentality cutting back on short rest in allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday is New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park, but fans can get an appetizer of sorts Wednesday when the final five races on the nine-race program are restricted to New York-breds.

Saturday’s card is scheduled to include 11 races with eight stakes restricted to statebreds, but none of those races are for 2-year-old filly sprinters on turf. Wednesday’s fifth is a first-level allowance for such horses, with Mentality looking like the one to beat based on a drop in class and a return to a sprint distance.

However, Mentality is running back just one week after she finished seventh, 7 1/2 lengths behind Rushing Fall, in the Grade 3 Jessamine at Keeneland. She was flown from Kentucky to New York on Sunday.

“I’m doing something I don’t do and that’s come back on short rest,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “But the race is there, New York-breds, she’s already won at this distance on this track.”

Mentality, a daughter of Freud, won her debut going six furlongs June 16 at Belmont, going gate to wire while running the distance in 1:09.27 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 70. Mentality was then stretched out in distance to see if she could be a potential Breeders’ Cup candidate, but she finished fourth in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga before her seventh last week in the Jessamine.

“Sprinting is what she wants to do,” said Ward, who has John Velazquez to ride from post 4.

With other speed in the field, the race could shape up for Blue Atlas, who is coming off a maiden win by a nose sprinting here Sept. 17. That race came after a third-place finish going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga.

“We thought she’d stretch out, but she’s just a little bit headstrong, so backing her up to six seemed to help,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Was happy they had a race like this to offer.”

Codrington and Saratoga Treasure look like the other contenders in the race. Trouble for Skylar and Pauseforthecause try turf for the first time. Beaux Arts, a winner in her only previous turf start, completes the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mentality, by Freud
Last 3 Beyers: 70-61-70

◗ Comes back seven days after setting the pace and getting swallowed up in Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland.

◗ DRF Formulator Fact: Over last three years, Ward is 2 for 3 with a $2.90 ROI bringing horses back to the races in seven days or less.

Blue Atlas, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 61-56-58

◗ Best two races have been sprinting, including an off-the-pace victory in a maiden race here Sept. 17.

◗ Drawn nicely on the outside and figures to work out a stalking trip under Javier Castellano.

Saratoga Treasure, by Treasure Beach
Beyer: 60

◗ Came from well off the pace to win debut by a neck at 20-1. Filly she beat, English Soul, came back to win her next start by 14 1/4 lengths.