Pat On the Back meets Twisted Tom in Saginaw

ELMONT, N.Y. – It speaks to the continued evolution of the New York-bred program when Pat On the Back can get away from a horse like Diversify and still not be favored in a restricted stakes race.

Pat On the Back, beaten a nose by Diversify in the Commentator Stakes on May 28, now faces multiple stakes winner Twisted Tom in Friday’s rescheduled Saginaw Stakes at Belmont Park. The Saginaw was originally carded for July 1, but that card was canceled because of extreme heat. It was rescheduled for Thursday, but did not have enough entries to be carded. Fullback Foye was supplemented to the race, and Wine Not is running back six days after he finished second in an open-company allowance race.

Twisted Tom went 6 for 7 in 2017, with his lone loss being a sixth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He closed out his 3-year-old campaign last year with wins in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes, the Albany at Saratoga, and the Empire Classic, where he defeated older horses at Belmont last fall.

Twisted Tom had two works at Palm Meadows in Florida during the winter before being sent back to the farm. He has worked 11 times since April 20 for trainer Chad Brown.

“I’m hoping maybe he’s a little rusty, but I’m sure Chad’s got him ready,” said Jeremiah Englehart, trainer of Pat On the Back.

Pat On the Back has just one win from his last 12 starts. In the Commentator, he took advantage of a strong early pace and a track that favored outside closers. He fell a nose short of Diversify, who came back to romp in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Suburban Stakes.

“That day it seemed like speed wasn’t that good and outside closers had the advantage, and we had a lot of pace to run at,” Englehart said. “I mean Diversify was third; he was sitting in front of us.”

“He seems like he’s still doing as well as he was going into that race, so I’m hoping for a good race,” Englehart added.

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Hit It Once More may seek to try and wire the field under John Velazquez. The last time he ran against New York-breds, Hit It Once More won the Haynesfield Stakes at Aqueduct at 16-1.

The Saginaw goes as the eighth on a nine-race card that begins at 3:05 p.m.

KEY CONTENDERS

Twisted Tom, by Creative Cause
Last 3 Beyers: 93-92-88

◗ Comes off a nine-month layoff with a solid work tab, including two breezes since the last time he was entered and the race wasn’t run.

◗ He is a five-time stakes winner, and is 3 for 3 in New York-bred stakes.

◗ Has the speed to be on or near the pace if necessary.

Pat On the Back, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-66

◗ Has finished second to Diversify and Eye Luv Lulu in his last two starts. Diversify has since won the Grade 2 Suburban, while Eye Luv Lulu ran third in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint.

◗ Finished third behind Twisted Tom in the New York Derby and Albany.