Realm gets a break from stakes company

ELMONT, N.Y. – After competing in seven consecutive stakes races, Realm seeks a little bit of class relief when he runs in a third-level/optional $100,000 claiming race going 1 1/16 miles that serves as the feature on Thursday’s eight-race card at Belmont Park.

In the summer of 2018, Realm won a second-level allowance race going 1 1/16 miles here and then came back to win the restricted Alydar Stakes at Saratoga. He ran in six more stakes, with third-place finishes to Marconi in the Skip Away at Gulfstream Park in March and the Grade 2 Brooklyn here in June.

The Grade 2 Suburban proved a bit too tough for Realm, and after skipping the Saratoga meet he was beaten 9 1/4 lengths when third again to Marconi in the Grand Prix American Jockey Club going 1 1/2 miles here on Sept. 7.

“I wish it was a little bit longer, a mile and an eighth at least would have been nice, but he’s doing well,” said Robin Smullen, the assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. “Hopefully, we’re in the right spot. Trying to get a little class relief. We’ve been running against some tough company.”

Realm, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado, is likely to stalk American Tattoo, who breaks from the rail under Jose Ortiz. American Tattoo was a front-running winner of a second-level allowance going this distance here on June 19. In his most recent start, American Tattoo finished seventh in the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez and owner Michael Imperio claimed the 7-year-old gelding Backsideofthemoon for $62,500 out of a fourth-place finish at Saratoga on Aug. 9. They immediately gelded the horse by Malibu Moon and this will be his first start since then.

Rodriguez said Backsideofthemoon had an undescended testicle.

“Michael Imperio always liked that horse, so as soon as the overnight came out, he said we’re claiming that horse,” Rodriguez said. “He’s training good, he’s coming into the race good, but the race is tough. On his best race, he can be competitive with those horses.”

Backsideofthemoon is 0 for 12 at Belmont, but did finish second in a seven-furlong allowance race here at this level in May.

High North makes his second start for trainer Shug McGaughey but first on the dirt. He is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Presque Isle Downs Mile over a synthetic surface on Sept. 9. He does show a best-of-70 bullet work in 46.60 seconds here on Sept. 22.

Small Bear won an optional claiming race at Aqueduct on Jan. 1 but has not run since. Trainer Gary Sciacca said the horse needed an extended break following a nine-race campaign in 2018 and some physical issues that needed to be addressed.

“I don’t know if he’ll need one or not. He’s doing pretty good,” Sciacca said.

Roaming Union, a likely pace player, and Carlino, a closer, complete the field.