Pioneering Spirit will have recency over key rivals Grand Sonata, Turf King, and Kalik on Friday when he makes the third start of his form cycle in the eighth race at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. The conditioned allowance will be run at a mile on the inner turf and carries an optional claiming price of $80,000. A field of 13 was entered, with 10 in the body of the race and Laughing Boy on the also-eligible list. The two main-track only entrants are Sheriff Bianco and Synthesis. Pioneering Spirit could be sitting on a peak effort when making his third start since November. In his return April 20, he was fourth in the Danger’s Hour at Aqueduct. From there, Pioneering Spirit finished third in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at the current meet May 4. “With two races under his belt now [he’s] racing fit, so that’s helpful,” trainer Linda Rice said. “Before, he was coming off a layoff with only a handful of breezes. Each race, he’s gotten tighter and is approaching top form.” Pioneering Spirit earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89 in the Danger’s Hour and put up a 94 last out in the Fort Marcy. He set the pace in the latter race, which was run over 1 1/8 miles on firm turf, and will be cutting back Friday. “He’s been pretty versatile on distance,” Rice said. “I probably like him a little better going farther, but we’ve had limited turf opportunities for a horse like him.” Pioneering Spirit is a two-time stakes winner who has won six races overall and earned more than $500,000. He will break from post 3 with Jose Lezcano aboard for A Bianco Holding Limited. “He’s a beautiful mover, very tactical,” Rice said. “He can press the pace, come from way out of it. The ability to do both is certainly an asset.” Grand Sonata is making his first start since Dec. 30, when he was a close fourth in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park. The 95 Beyer he earned is the co-highest last-race turf Beyer in the field, a distinction he shares with Call Me Harry. Grand Sonata, a Grade 3 winner, will start from post 2. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher. Turf King won the Grade 3 Marine last July at Woodbine. He’s made one start since, finishing eighth by five lengths in the Grade 2 Canadian Turf on March 2 at Gulfstream Park. Kalik, a Grade 2 winner on turf, is moving back to the surface after finishing 13th on Tapeta in the King’s Plate last out at Woodbine. On turf, Kalik is 3 for 5. Disarmed and stakes winner Maker’s Candy could prove to be the speed of Friday’s race, with Pioneering Spirit and the returning Grand Sonata, Turf King, and Kalik settling in behind those rivals. The field also includes Grade 2 winner Stolen Base, who could be prominent on the stretch out from six furlongs, and four-time stakes winner Big Everest. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.