Nexrad, blinkers on, among several contenders
ELMONT, N.Y. – Perhaps the addition of blinkers will give Nexrad a slight edge in a wildly competitive $77,000, first-level allowance race Friday at Belmont Park.
Five of the eight horses entered in the 1 3/8-mile turf race are coming off a loss of less than a length, with several coming out of the same race. Seven of the eight have Beyer Speed Figures of between 82 and 86 in their most recent outing.
Fire Away, Request, Grey Wizard, and Nexrad were separated by a half-length when finishing second through fifth in a similar spot going 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 26. Nexrad, trained by Bill Mott, was sent off at 29-1 that day while coming off a defeat at Parx four weeks earlier.
In that Parx race, Nexrad finished third behind Mr Maybe and Call Wil. Mr Maybe came back to win a second-level allowance race at Belmont Park. Call Wil has come back to win two races at Parx.
Meanwhile, in his race at Belmont, Nexrad actually broke on top and was reined in to race seventh down the backside. He seemed to be dropping farther back on the far turn but then came on again in the stretch.
“He was a little spotty the other day,” said Leanna Willaford, the Belmont-based assistant to Mott.
Fire Away finished three-quarters of a length in front of Good Response in winning a 1 1/4-mile maiden race here in July. Good Response came back to win a maiden race and get beat a nose in his first try against winners, with both races at Saratoga.
KEY CONTENDERS
Nexrad (Last 3 Beyers: 85-79-72)
◗ His last three efforts have been his best and have coincided with his being stretched out in distance.
“Bill kind of thought he wanted more ground,” Willaford said.
◗ Blinkers might put him in the game a little bit with this race appearing void of speed.
Good Response (Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-81)
◗ Another who has improved his Beyer figures – and results – since being stretched out in distance. He was beaten a nose by the favored Belisarius last out at Saratoga.
“He was unlucky, but he ran very well to get beat this far,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, holding his fingers close together. “He likes the distance, and he’s doing well, so hopefully he runs a big race, but a couple of those who have been running with him are back in again.”
Grey Wizard (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-82)
◗ Was widest of all when finishing fourth in the aforementioned Sept. 26 race, rallying from 12 lengths back to get beat three-quarters of a length.
◗ Lone win came going 1 3/8 miles at Belmont in June, when he again rallied from far back.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Boss Man. Trainer Jason Servis is 12-5-0-0 with a $3.93 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on turf with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Grey Wizard. Trainer Chad Brown is 22-7-2-2 with a $3.07 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with Junior Alvarado aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan