Multiple Choice's work says go

ELMONT, N.Y. - Multiple Choice tops a field of tough sprinters in Thursday's allowance feature at Belmont Park.

The 6 1/2-furlong race, which offers a $54,000 purse, drew seven older males.

Multiple Choice, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, is the one to beat in this competitive field. Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the 4-year-old hasn't competed since winning a similar race at Aqueduct on April 11.

Multiple Choice, a gelded son of Mt. Livermore, has won races after similar layoffs. Multiple Choice signaled his readiness with a half-mile work in 47.07 seconds over Belmont's training track on Monday. The breeze was the fastest of 62 at the distance.

Multiple Choice, who should be prominent in the early going, drew post 2.

Nevada Strip might be Multiple Choice's toughest opponent. Trained by Bruce Levine, Nevada Strip lost his last two starts, including a13-length loss in May, but those races came on the heels of long layoff, and he could be rounding into form now. A 5-year-old, Nevada Strip worked a bullet three furlongs in 35.96 seconds on Monday.

Mike Luzzi rides Nevada Strip, who drew the rail.

Say Florida Sandy, an 8-year-old, is the leading money earner in the field with $1,811,154, but he must atone for a loss in an allowance race on May 25 at Belmont Park. Say Florida Sandy, the favorite, never threatened and finished third, beaten six lengths by the front-running winner Appealing Danger, who covered six furlongs in a sizzling 1:08.85 A year ago, Say Florida Sandy would have laid over that field.

Aaron Gryder rides Say Florida Sandy, an off-the-pace sprinter, from post 5.

Marshall Greeley and Cherokee Beau, who exit the same race as Say Florida Sandy, consistently finish in the money and are capable of winning this on their best effort.

Marshall Greeley finished second last time, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Say Florida Sandy. Cherokee Beau, who had finished first or second in nine previous starts, was fourth.

Shaun Bridgmohan, aboard for Marshall Greeley's one win and three seconds this year, has the mount for trainer Eric Juvonen.

Turnofthecentury, a 5-year-old stakes winner, hasn't raced since finishing last in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap on June 9, 2001. Turnofthecentury's best game is at a mile and beyond, and he figures to need a race before he is ready to put forth a top effort.

Chasin' Wimmin, a longshot, completes the field.

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