Partly Mocha stretches out to a mile for Friday optional claimer

Trainer George Weaver viewed Partly Mocha as a late-running turf sprinter who probably didn’t want to run farther than 5 1/2 furlongs. Then, one day last summer, the 5-year-old gelding proved him wrong.

On Friday, in a fairly contentious second-level optional-claiming race at Belmont Park, Partly Mocha will get an opportunity to run a mile, the farthest he ever has run.

The one-mile race drew a field of 11, including the California shipper Tigah.

Partly Mocha ran a good third, beaten a half-length in a six-furlong allowance race June 6 at Belmont Park, his first start of the year. Weaver didn’t want to wait nearly two months to run him 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, so he tried him seven furlongs on July 5 at Belmont in a race that carried a $92,000 purse.

“I told Rajiv [Maragh], ‘Cover him up and don’t let him run until the last second,’ ” Weaver said. “I didn’t expect him to win.”

But Partly Mocha did win, and after two fourth-place finishes sprinting at Saratoga, Partly Mocha now is back at Belmont to try the mile.

“I don’t think he’s a two-turn horse, but I would be inclined to run this horse a mile,” Weaver said. “You have to try. I thought his races at Saratoga were subpar, but the horse seems to be doing well, so we’ll give it a try.”

Though Del Mar had trouble with its turf course during the summer, Tigah still managed to make five starts over it during the meet. He had a win and two seconds to go along with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile. Owner-trainer Barry Abrams sent Tigah to New York on Tuesday – he was on the flight that brought California Chrome to Parx – and he will run for trainer Anthony Quartarolo.

“Barry said he likes to run. He enjoys it,” Quartarolo said. “The horse looks terrific.”

Among the more logical contenders in the race are Middleburg, second in three consecutive tries at the distance; McIlroy, who comes off a first-level allowance win on Travers Day for trainer Chad Brown; and Brickyard Kitten, the runner-up at this level also on Travers Day for trainer Tony Dutrow.

Key contenders

Partly Mocha (Last 3 Beyers 80-80-90)

* He returns to Belmont Park, where he has a 2-1-2 record from seven starts, including a two-length victory at seven furlongs in his last start.

* He could be compromised by a seeming lack of early speed in this field.

McIlroy (Last 3 Beyers 89-90-78)

* Was relatively close to a modest pace when knocking out a first-level allowance win at Saratoga and figures to be forwardly placed under Jose Ortiz in this spot.

* Has a win and a second from three starts at Belmont.

Middleburg (Last 3 Beyers 89-92-89)

* Needs to shake a case of “second-itis” that has plagued him in his last three starts.