One year later, the promising Starfront makes second start
ELMONT, N.Y. – Starfront showed star potential when she won her debut by 4 3/4 lengths here last Oct. 2. Unfortunately, the daughter of Malibu Moon was subsequently injured and sidelined.
Nearly a year later, Starfront is scheduled to make her second start in a first-level allowance for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt. This race and a first-level allowance turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up are the co-features on Thursday’s nine-race card at Belmont Park, which begins at 2:05 p.m.
Despite getting away a step slow, Starfront scored a relatively easy front-running victory, only being shown the whip by jockey Jose Ortiz while running six furlongs in 1:09.62 and earning an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
“The horse was training brilliantly and we were relieved to see her do it in the afternoon,” said Chad Brown, who trains Starfront for Juddmonte. “We always thought a lot of her and continue to think a lot of her.”
Brown said he had to stop on Starfront on multiple occasions, and credited Juddmonte for persevering and giving the filly a chance to return.
“Juddmonte has a wonderful team and facility to rehab her – a couple of different times – and they’ve really sent her back to us in tip-top shape,” Brown said. “Knock on wood, I love what I’m seeing from her, so we’ll see.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Thursday from post 2.
Starfront will be conceding recency and experience to all seven of her opponents, including stablemate Spa Ready, who makes her fourth start, second this year.
Her lone victory came on debut going this distance, but the race came back slow. After finishing fourth to Malathaat in the Tempted last November, Spa Ready didn’t race again until Aug. 7 when she finished second in this condition at Monmouth Park.
“I’m pleasantly surprised with how much she’s developed over the summer in her 3-year-old year,” said Brown, who trains Spa Ready for Wise Racing. “She’s taken that step and gotten a little bigger, a little stronger and a little sharper in her works. I’m interested to see how she’s going to run here if she can step up.”
Javier Castellano has the call from post 8.
Glass Ceiling is only 3 for 20, but she did run second to Bella Sofia in this condition here in July. Bella Sofia has gone on to win the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga as well as Sunday’s Grade 2 Gallant Bloom.
In race 8, Brown sends out Digital Future in a contentious allowance going six furlongs on turf. Digital Future is a lightly raced 3-year-old who is coming off a maiden win sprinting on turf at Saratoga while wearing blinkers for the first time.
“I think it made a difference,” Brown said. “He looked like he took another step forward. He’s obviously turned into a turf sprint type of horse. Off his last win, he’s earned the right to the next level and see if he can start going through his allowance conditions.”
Perfect Munnings and Scocciatore each is coming off a big win on dirt in statebred company. Both have had success on turf.
Ballydooley won twice over Belmont’s turf at the spring/summer meet before finishing fifth in an allowance sprint at Saratoga. Trainer Michelle Nevin puts him on Lasix for the first time.