Rewrite has key versatility

ELMONT, N.Y. - As he examined the past performances for Wednesday's featured $65,000 Stage View Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Christophe Clement could not help but wish he were a horseplayer.

"If I went to the races and you gave me this, I think it would be fun," Clement said, past performances in hand. "Five horses can win this, maybe more.''

Clement believes he has one of the five in Rewrite, who could go off a slight favorite in the Stage View, a seven-furlong turf race restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares that attracted 13 entries for turf and two more for the main track only. Only 12 may run on turf.

Rewrite, who has recorded all four of her wins at Belmont, was scratched from the Mount Vernon on June 10 because Clement didn't think she was doing well.

"I thought she needed a bit more time," Clement said. "The race was a tough race and she was a little [dehydrated]. She looks a bit better now and she's been training well."

Rewrite, a daughter of Editor's Note, is versatile enough to race from on or off the lead, though Clement would prefer that she comes from off the pace. The early fractions could hinge on whether the speedy Iron Goddess draws in from the also-eligible list.

Willshefire, trained by Barclay Tagg, is a versatile sort who has won her last two starts with different styles. She won her 3-year-old finale on the lead when she was trained by Lisa Lewis. She won her 4-year-old debut against open company coming from a stalking position.

Robin Smullen, assistant to Tagg, said they had instructed jockey Eibar Coa "to rate her if he could" that day. Smullen said Willshefire is "like a rocket out of the gate.

"It's just a matter of getting her to go as easy as you can," she said.

The value of the race could be Artistic Express, trained by Ramon Hernandez. Artistic Express will be making the third start off a layoff after running fourth to Masseuse in the Grade 3 Beaguay and then pressing a slow pace when she finished fourth behind Factual Contender in the Mount Vernon. She won going seven furlongs here last June.

Sabellina, the two-time champion New York-bred female turf horse, will run in foal to Pulpit. Trainer Joe Aquilino said he is using this race as a training tool for longer races.

"I expect her to run good," said Aquilino, who has Edgar Prado to ride. "We don't have to send her. Hopefully, there's a lot of pace, and she should make a nice closing run."