Ranger Fox on the offensive
ELMONT, N.Y. – In less than a month, a new arena for the NHL’s New York Islanders will open on the grounds of Belmont Park. Thursday’s feature race at Belmont, however, could be all about a horse named after the Islanders’ biggest rivals.
Ranger Fox, named by owner Eric Fein for New York Rangers’ defenseman and Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, will look to successfully stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time in a first-level allowance scheduled for the turf.
The warm, dry weather that has punctuated this meet and allowed for the majority of the 123 turf races to be run over firm ground is coming to an end. Though dry conditions are forecast for Thursday, plenty of rain was forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday.
Ranger Fox showed the ability to handle “good” ground when he won a seven-furlong maiden race here on July 10. Off that, Ranger Fox finished sixth in the one-mile Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga before turning back to six furlongs in the Allied Forces at Belmont where he finished fifth.
“I made a mistake off the mile race at Saratoga cutting him back,” trainer John Terranova said. “He wants more ground. He just goes and goes and he’s been working really well.”
Terranova said Ranger Fox encountered some trouble in the first turn of the Better Talk Now.
“I think we just got in a tangle going into the first turn at Saratoga and he grabbed him and just choked him down a bit and got him a little out of rhythm,” Terranova said. “He’s more of that free-running type where more ground will help him, I think.”
Javier Castellano, who went 5 for 27 here last week, has the call on Ranger Fox from post 6.
Regal Speaker, a winner of two straight New York-bred allowance races, steps into open company for trainer Danny Gargan. A son of Mr Speaker, Regal Speaker earned a career-best 88 Beyer winning a second-level statebred race here on Sept. 30.
“I’m not worried about the competition,” Gargan said. “The only thing I’m worried about is running back a little quicker than I usually do. He’s not a real big horse, but you got to take a shot with turf horses this time of year.”
Junior Alvarado rides from post 2.
Hidden Enemy lost a brutal bob to the New York-bred stakes winner Ocala Dream in this condition here on Sept. 18. His lone win from 12 career starts came over "good" ground at Fair Grounds.
Space Launch and Never Explain finished third and fifth, respectively, behind Ocala Dream in that Sept. 18 race. Space Launch seemed a little uncomfortable while on the inside down the backstretch and lugged in a bit in the stretch. Never Explain had a wide trip and did have a strong workout here on Sunday.
With the rails out 35 feet on the inner turf Thursday, the field is limited to 10 starters. St. Joe Louis, beaten a neck in this condition on Aug. 14 at Saratoga, goes out for Chad Brown, who has recorded 18 of his meet-leading 23 wins on the turf. Treason, King Cause, Quid, and Master of the Ring round out the body of the field. There are two also-eligibles and three horses entered only for the main track.