Parx Racing: Reserved Quality returns from layoff in Monday allowance

After beginning his 2012 campaign by running twice within the span of three days in January, the 3-year-old Reserved Quality didn’t race again for seven months. The New York-based Reserved Quality ends his long layoff when he faces older horses in Monday’s featured $47,000, first-level allowance at Parx Racing.

Owned and trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Reserved Quality improved dramatically when he came back on two days’ rest to finish second, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield over Aqueduct’s inner track Jan. 16. The 85 Beyer Speed Figure he was awarded represented a 23-point improvement over his previous best in a two-turn mile Jan. 13.

In preparation for his return in Monday’s 6 1/2-furlong race, Reserved Quality has worked six times since July 12. He was entered for the main track only and scratched from a first-level optional $25,000 claimer at Saratoga on Saturday.

Dutrow’s record with long layoff types in elongated sprints isn’t up to his usual standards. Runners returning from a break of more than 180 days in dirt sprints at 6 1/2 or seven furlongs are 6 for 31 (19 percent), including 0 for 5 in allowance events.

If Reserved Quality isn’t ready to fire first time back after the long break, Change We Need and Bellagio are viable alternatives.

The 5-year-old Change We Need, 6 for 16 lifetime at Parx, outran his 19-1 odds to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a first-level allowance July 30. He has tried eight times to clear his first allowance condition the past two years.

Bellagio, 7, often comes close but seldom wins. He has failed to clear his first allowance condition six times this season, finishing second five times in a row. His last victory came for a $14,000 claiming tag in March at Laurel Park.