Odd spot for Go Noni Go's return

ELMONT, N.Y. – Looking at the field for Thursday’s $85,000 allowance feature at Belmont Park, two obvious questions pop out to anyone trying to assess the race: Where has the graded stakes winner Go Noni Go been and why is the two-turn turf specialist coming back from an 8 1/2-month layoff running 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt?

Go Noni Go is one of only six fillies and mares in the optional-claiming dash, which highlights an eight-race program with first post set for 3 p.m.

Go Noni Go has not started since finishing fourth after encountering some early trouble in the Tropical Park Oaks to close out her 3-year-old campaign last December at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Get Stormy captured the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks on Turfway Park’s Polytrack in March of 2018, but has gone winless in six subsequent starts, although she did finish third in the Grade 3 Regret late last spring at Churchill Downs.

“She didn’t have any serious issues. We just gave her time to freshen up and she’s been training very well for her return,” trainer Mike Maker explained.

Go Noni Go was off the board in her only two starts on dirt, both 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight races at Churchill Downs early in her 2-year-old season.

“She’s a different filly now from when she first tried dirt at 2,” said Maker. “I’ve been a lot more aggressive in her training since she’s come back. I entered her in a turf race that didn’t go, so I put her in here more or less to get a race into her, although she’s fit enough to win and should handle the dirt just fine. We’ve always had high hopes for her and I’m really looking forward to running her the rest of this year and especially looking ahead to her 5-year-old campaign.”

Honor Way and China Rider are the only two members of the field with a win this season.

Honor Way was claimed for $62,500 by trainer Charlton Baker out of a fourth-place finish over a muddy strip in his Saratoga finale after defeating similar competition going 6 ½ furlongs at Belmont Park in June.

China Rider exits a conditioned-claiming win in a race switched from the turf to a sloppy main track on Aug. 21 at Saratoga.

Pauseforthecause is winless in six tries since defeating entry-evel allowance types last December. Also in the field are Lezendary and the Monmouth Park-based invader Squan’s Kingdom.