Raven's Cry gives sprinting a try in Floral Park
ELMONT, N.Y. – Raven’s Cry will attempt to regain the winning form she displayed earlier in the year when she turns back in distance for Sunday’s $150,000 Floral Park Stakes for fillies and mares scheduled for six furlongs over Belmont Park’s inner turf course.
A winner of two of seven starts in Ireland to begin her career, Raven’s Cry was purchased by Martin Schwartz last year and moved to trainer Brad Cox. Raven’s Cry won an allowance at Fair Grounds and the Miss Houston Stakes, both at a mile earlier this year.
She then lost stakes at Lone Star, Indiana Grand, and Saratoga. Her fifth-place finish in the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8 doesn’t look so bad when you consider that runner-up Hendy Woods and fourth-place finisher Viadera each won a stakes in her next start. Star Commander, sixth in the De La Rose, won an allowance in her next start. Regal Glory, who won the De La Rose, came back to run second, beaten a half-length by Blowout in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland.
Cox said he thought about starting Raven’s Cry at shorter distances when he first got her but kept her at a mile because she was running well.
“We’re trying to open a door and I think it’s a real possibility she could handle the one turn and shortening up,” Cox said. “She’s a sharp little filly, she’s honest, and she tries hard. I think she could get a good trip from out there.”
Raven’s Cry will break from post 9 under Luis Saez.
Robin Sparkles returns to Belmont Park, where she has three wins and a second-place finish from four starts. After two third-place finishes in stakes on turf at Saratoga, Robin Sparkles won an allowance race at Laurel on Sept. 30.
Jose Ortiz rides Robin Sparkles from post 6.
The wildcard in the field is Pacific Gale. The 6-year-old mare is a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt but will be trying turf for the first time Sunday in her 34th start.
After she worked well on turf at Saratoga, trainer John Kimmel had Pacific Gale entered in the Smart N Fancy Stakes on the grass there Aug. 21 but scratched her when the turf came up soft. There was some rain in the forecast here for Saturday night, but it may not have much impact on what has been a very firm course during a very dry fall.
Kimmel said that should Pacific Gale show an affinity for turf she may stay in training for another year. Kimmel said Pacific Gale was scheduled to be bred to Not This Time last winter before she won the Inside Information in January and the Hurricane Bertie in March.
“As soon as she knows she’s going to the breeding shed she runs pretty good,” Kimmel said. “If she can’t beat that group of horses, it’s an experiment that won’t be repeated.”
Too Sexy, Introduced, and Secure Connection each is coming off a win. Honey Cake, Time Limit, and Gogo Shoes complete the field.