Power Alert now targeting Jaipur

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Brian Lynch thought he’d found an easy spot for his turf-sprint specialist Power Alert in Saturday’s $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint. But the devastating weather that has plagued that part of the country this past week has forced Lynch to go to Plan B – next Saturday’s Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park.

Lynch had originally turned down his invitation to the Jaipur to run for the same money in what figured to be an easier spot at Evangeline. That puts Power Alert on the reserve list for the Jaipur, although Lynch does not anticipate any problem getting into the starting lineup, with only eight or nine others likely to be entered for the six-furlong dash over the Widener turf. But Lynch will have to replace regular rider Julien Leparoux, who had taken the call on Ageless for trainer Arnaud Delacour, thinking Power Alert would not be running in the Jaipur.

“I didn’t take the invitation because I thought we were a lead-pipe cinch in the race at Evangeline Downs,” said Lynch. “But it looks like we’re good to go. Unfortunately, Julien was already committed, so I’ve gotten John Velazquez to ride him instead.”

Power Alert is coming off the best performance of his career, a three-quarter-length victory over Undrafted in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 1. The win was the third in four starts for Power Alert since joining Lynch’s stable last winter in south Florida. Power Alert had been plagued by a bleeding problem in his native Australia but has had no such issues since coming to the U.S., where he can race on Lasix.

Lynch will have plenty of action during Belmont Stakes week. He also sends out Clearly Now in the Grade 2 True North next Friday and Coffee Clique in the Grade 1 Just a Game on Saturday.

Clearly Now set a course record in winning the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint on Belmont Stakes Day last year. He has started twice in 2015, finishing far back in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct before missing by a neck in an overnight stakes here this month.

Jose Lezcano will ride him in the True North.

“I felt like he didn’t get a lot out of his first race at Aqueduct, but he did get a lot out of the last one here, and I think I’ve got him right where we like him now,” said Lynch. “And we’ve got Lezcano back on him. He got him to switch leads and break the track record here last year. Hopefully, he can do it again next week.”