Mo Dont No makes turf debut in Gendelman Memorial

For older Ohio-bred males such as Mo Dont No, the 2016 statebred champion, there are no dirt stakes on the calendar until August. So, rather than allow his statebred star to sit in his stall for two months, trainer Jeff Radosevich is going to find out whether Mo Dont No can run well on turf.

Mo Dont No, coming off a sensational 3-year-old campaign in which he won four stakes at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, will make his turf debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap at Belterra Park.

You can’t blame Radosevich for taking a shot in the 1 1/16-mile Gendelman with a first-time turf runner. He won last year’s race with the 5-year-old Dubacious, who won his turf debut in wire-to-wire fashion over yielding ground and will make his first grass start since then in Saturday’s stakes. Although Mo Dont No and Dubacious are both owned by Looch Racing Stables, they will race uncoupled.

The field of Ohio-breds also includes Royal Ransom, who ran well against open claiming company on turf at Fair Grounds; Silver Tongued, the runner-up in last year’s Gendelman; and the 3-year-old Cake Pop, third while making his turf debut in last month’s Green Carpet.

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Gendelman Memorial, Race 6

KEY CONTENDERS

Mo Dont No, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 84-75-88

◗ The big question is whether you’re willing to take a short price on a horse who has never raced on turf. His dam, Lilah, was 0 for 2 on turf, and her only foal to race on the surface went 0 for 2. His sire, Uncle Mo, has a 15 percent success rate (17 for 110) with older horses in turf routes.

Dubacious, by E Dubai
Last 3 Beyers: 55-43-69

◗ He comes back just 10 days after fading to fifth in a dirt sprint, his fifth straight loss since he won the Gendelman. Will he wake up while returning to turf?

Royal Ransom, by Regal Ransom
Last 3 Beyers: 79-60-78

◗ The three Beyers he earned on turf at Fair Grounds (78-77-77) indicate that he fits well with this group. He’s also 2 for 2 since he began facing Ohio-breds.

Cake Pop, by Notional
Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-61

◗ He gets eight pounds from Mo Dont No and will be dangerous if he moves forward at all in his second start on grass.

Silver Tongued, by Flatter
Last 3 Beyers: 63-60-77

◗ He was a close second as the 2-1 favorite in this race last year after finishing third in 2014 and seventh in 2015. Could be ready for a peak performance in the third start of his form cycle.

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