Nicks sends contenders in both turf features
ELMONT, N.Y. – A pair of interesting optional-claiming races scheduled for the turf – one going long, one short – highlight Thursday’s nine-race card at Belmont Park.
Trainer Ralph Nicks has contenders in both races. He sends out the 4-year-old colt Hollywood Idol in the sixth, scheduled for 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf, and the 5-year-old mare Iroquois Girl against males in the eighth, scheduled for six furlongs on the Widener turf.
Nicks said this is scheduled to be the last race for Iroquois Girl before she is sold next month. Nicks took over the ownership of Iroquois Girl when owner James Spence suffered a stroke.
“Mr. Spence was the man who helped me get started,” Nicks said.
Iroquois Girl has won three of four starts since going on turf. She won a second-level allowance at Saratoga on Sept. 4.
Her main rivals include Dowse’s Beach and Night Officer.
In the sixth, Nicks will try to stretch Hollywood Idol out beyond 1 1/16 miles for the first time. He finished fourth, beaten a half-length, at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 5 after setting rapid early fractions.
“It’s an experiment, something I need to try with him,” Nicks said. “To me, he seems like a horse that wants to keep going.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Race 6
Sly Tom (Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-84)
◗ Got squeezed at the break and came with a long, sustained bid when third, beaten a half-length, at this condition here Sept. 19.
◗ Owns a win over the course going 1 1/4 miles in June in his second start off a layoff. In fact, both of his wins have come in the second start off a layoff.
◗ He is trained by Brian Lynch, who also sends out Dorsett, who was beaten 19 lengths in an off-the-turf match race at Parx last out.
Hollywood Idol (Last 3 Beyers: 85-82-87)
◗ In a race seemingly void of speed, this Smart Strike colt figures to try to take them as far as he can as fast he can under Jose Ortiz.
“He’ll make the lead, get pressed, and fight on,” Nicks said. “He acts like a horse with stamina and deserves an opportunity.”
Roccia d’Oro
◗ This 3-year-old shows a series of steady works for his North American debut and first start for trainer Tom Albertrani.
◗ Went 2 for 3 in Italy, with a fifth-place finish in the Italian Derby in May.
Race 8
Dowse’s Beach (Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-87)
◗ Chased the front-running Plainview all around the track when finishing second, beaten a length, in similar spot Sept. 23 going seven furlongs.
◗ Cuts back to six furlongs and might get a contested pace with Joe Franklin and Iroquois Girl in the mix.
Night Officer (Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-88)
◗ His only win in the last two years came via disqualification, but he’s coming out of runner-up finishes in two stakes at Laurel and has three wins from six starts at Belmont.
◗ Ran against stakes performers Pure Sensation and Shore Runner the last two times he tried allowance company on this circuit.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the condition of owner James Spence when Ralph Nicks took ownership of Iroquois Girl. Spence suffered a stroke, but did not die.