Mizzen Max makes first start for Nevin
The highest-level races on the Friday card at Belmont Park are a pair of wide-open first-level allowance sprints slotted as races 6 and 8. And a handful of promising runners are scattered among the day’s three maiden races.
In race 6, Mizzen Max could go favored over six fellow New York-bred allowance runners. But there are warning flags. She will be making her first start in six months and debuting for a new barn.
If she can pick up where she left off, Mizzen Max, now trained by Michelle Nevin, may be able to work out a stalking trip from post 1 behind the speedy Zealous Scholar, who is drawn just to her outside.
An alternative in this 6 1/2-furlong race is Satin Sheets from the barn of Steve Asmussen. All you have to do is draw a line through her fourth-place turf debut last time out.
Following a debut victory, Satin Sheets had to work to best Zealous Scholar by a nose for second in a seven-furlong allowance. That race was won by the statebred stakes-class runner Tiznow’s Smile. Fourth-place finisher Overnegotiate has since come back to win two allowance races.
If Satin Sheets can settle better, she should have added late punch.
Race 8, an open six-furlong turf allowance, is not easy to predict. Seize, who will be making his first start since November, should take the field quite a way on the lead.
Bibbo, who will be making his second start of the season, will be turning back in distance after tiring at a mile. He has every right to improve at a bit of a price. Seize is trained by Christophe Clement, and Bibbo by Asmussen.
In the day’s first race, Spring Folly will be following up a nice debut run for Michael Dickinson. She closed to finish third at six furlongs that day and gets an added furlong to work with here.
Skipping to race 4, Sentry tipped her hand last out, finishing fourth for Shug McGaughey in a Keeneland maiden race on turf. She is a strong player in this 1 1/16-mile grass race.
Now in a Drive, trained by Brian Lynch, has more early foot though and will have to be reeled in.
In race 5, Mr. Pete will be tough to beat if he draws in off the also-eligible list. He was second in his debut, and Jimmy Ryerson adds blinkers Friday.
Jose Ortiz has first child
Jose and Taylor Ortiz had their first child Tuesday morning, a daughter whom they have named Leilani.
Both mother – the former jockey Taylor Rice – and daughter are doing well, according to Jimmy Riccio, Jose Ortiz’s agent.
Jose was at the airport awaiting a flight to Presque Isle Downs on Monday when his wife began having labor pains, according to Riccio. Ortiz headed home to be with her, and Leilani was born at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. She weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces.
The name Leilani has Hawaiian origins and means “a heavenly flower.”
Coming into this week’s races, Ortiz, 23, was tied atop the Belmont Park standings with his brother Irad Ortiz Jr.