Pat On the Back ready for the big-time in Grade 2 Kelso

ELMONT, N.Y. – With his chronic foot issues seemingly under control, Pat On the Back could be poised to capture his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

Pat On the Back is the prototypical horse for course, with five wins, three seconds, and two thirds in 10 starts at Belmont.

If the New York-bred Pat On the Back is ever going to win an open-company stakes race, it most likely will happen at Belmont Park. His five wins have all come in stakes restricted to statebreds, including the $300,000 Empire Classic here last fall and the $200,000 Commentator Stakes in May. His three second-place finishes have come by three-quarters of a length, a nose, and a neck.

“He definitely likes this track, even training in the mornings,” trainer Jeremiah Englehart said. “I brought him to Saratoga, mainly because my blacksmith was there and to me he never trains as well there as he does here.”

Pat On the Back has been dealing with quarter cracks and other foot issues for most of his career. He won the Affirmed Success and Commentator here at the spring meet, but was forced to miss the Metropolitan Mile and the Belmont Sprint Championship in June and July.

In his only race at Saratoga, Pat On the Back finished third behind Bon Raison and He Hate Me in the Tale of the Cat Stakes.

When it comes to running Pat On the Back, Englehart said he takes his cues from the horse’s groom and exercise rider.

“His regular exercise rider is really excited about running him,” Englehart said.

Prince Lucky has shown an affinity for Belmont, winning the Easy Goer Stakes here as a 3-year-old and the State Dinner Stakes on July 7, his last start. Trainer Todd Pletcher had considered the Grade 1 Forego or the Grade 1 Woodward for Prince Lucky, but ultimately thought he wasn’t in optimum condition to run in those spots.

“He’s put in a couple of sharp breezes recently and looks like he’s ready to go,” Pletcher said.

Last fall, Plainsman strung together a three-race winning streak that began in a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont and concluded with the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct.

In his first start of the year, and first for trainer Shug McGaughey, Plainsman finished second to Uncontested in a seven-furlong race at Saratoga in a very fast time of 1:20.52.

McGaughey said Plainsman can be effective at a one-turn mile “if it sets up for him.”

Monongahela won the Grade 3 Iselin at Monmouth before finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney. He is cross-entered in the $150,000 Parx Dirt Mile but is expected to run here.

Completing the field are True Timber, Golden Brown (cross-entered in the Parx Dirt Mile and a turf race at Laurel), and Tale of Silence.

Brown pair top Noble Damsel

Of the two Chad Brown-trained runners in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park, bettors will probably prefer Significant Form to Stella di Camelot. But Stella di Camelot may prefer the one-mile distance of the Noble Damsel more than Significant Form.

Stella di Camelot’s lone victory in four starts in the U.S. came at a mile at Belmont in last year’s Pebbles Stakes. In two starts this year, she twice finished third, once by three-quarters of a length to Significant Form in the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes going seven furlongs here in June. Stella di Camelot also finished third to Got Stormy in the De La Rose at Saratoga

“I’m anxious to get her back to Belmont. That’s a good course for her,” Brown said. “I’d say she’d run well.”

Significant Form is a two-time stakes winner over the Belmont turf, including the Miss Grillo at 1 1/16 miles as a 2-year-old. She is coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa, where she just got up in the late stages.

“I was proud of her. I didn’t think she was going to get there,” Brown said. “She gutted it out. I was impressed.”

Bellavais is a four-time winner at a mile and has run well over firm Belmont turf.

Capla Temptress, Betty F, and Valedictorian complete the sextet.