Miz Blue primed after 'sensational' work

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is hoping that an extra two weeks of rest and a return to Belmont Park helps Dat You Miz Blue return to her winning ways when she heads a six-horse field entered in Sunday's $100,000 Floral Park Handicap at Belmont Park.

Jerkens kept Dat You Miz Blue out of last month's Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga because he wasn't pleased with her final workout before that race. Jerkens was ecstatic, however, with Dat You Miz Blue's five-furlong move in 1:00.83 Monday over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. It was the fastest of 17 moves at the distance.

"Her work up there the day before we came down here was sensational,'' Jerkens said. "She really went great and did it the right way.''

Moreover, Dat You Miz Blue has a record of 4-3-0 from eight starts at Belmont, including a 6 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap in June.

Dat You Miz Blue is coming off a third-place finish as the even-money favorite in the Grade 3 Honorable Miss. In that race, she broke from the rail and tried to run with the speedy Big Bambu early. John Velazquez then eased her back to try and get outside of Big Bambu. Although she re-rallied, Dat You Miz Blue tired late and finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

"I thought she had all the worst of it,'' Jerkens said. "She was up inside, took back, and made another run at that speedy filly. But, yeah, she does seem at her best here.''

Dat You Miz Blue, the starting highweight at 119 pounds, will have to deal with the speed of Miss Seffens in the Floral Park. Miss Seffens, a 4-year-old daughter of Dehere, is coming off front-running victories in minor stakes at Prairie Meadows and Ellis Park. Dat You Miz Blue will break from post 4, one slot inside of Miss Seffens.

If a duel develops, Finder's Fee and Hattiesburg stand to benefit most. Finder's Fee broke a 10-race losing streak when she captured a six-furlong classified allowance race at Saratoga last out. She is a Grade 1 winner over Belmont's main track and has responded to a change in her training regimen.

"I worked her on the grass just to give her a change of pace and I think that helped a little bit," trainer Shug McGaughey said.

Hattiesburg had a five-race winning streak snapped when third behind Miss Seffens in the Ellis Park Breeders' Cup Handicap. She may not have cared for the mud that day and a return to a fast track combined with a solid pace could make her a late threat under Robbie Davis.

Graded stakes winners Katz Me If You Can and Gold Mover complete the field.