Rice hopes First Appeal keeps her on winning track

ELMONT, N.Y. – If a trainer is only as good as his or her’s last starter, then Linda Rice should be feeling pretty good about things after a frustrating start to the Belmont Park fall meet.

Rice won Sunday’s final race with Devine Entry, a result she hopes triggers a second-half turnaround. Through the first 16 days of the meet, Rice has just three wins from her first 28 starters, with eight seconds and six thirds.

“We’ve been a bridesmaid and not a bride at this meet, so hopefully we’re going to get things going the right way,” Rice said Monday.

Rice has horses entered in five of Wednesday’s nine races at Belmont, including the uncoupled entry of First Appeal and Barrier to Entry in the featured New York-bred second-level optional $40,000 claiming race, scheduled for seven furlongs on the turf.

First Appeal has won four of her five starts for Rice, including both at Belmont Park. Most recently, First Appeal won a first-level New York-bred allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga. Barrier to Entry has one of the eight second-place finishes Rice has had at this meet, finishing second to Sister Sophia going six furlongs at this level Sept. 8.

“Barrier to Entry likes to be on the front end of things,” Rice said. “First Appeal seems to enjoy a stalking trip.”

The race drew 10 runners for the turf and four more for the main track, though there is no rain in the forecast.

There is other speed in the race, including Driven by Speed and Queen of Spades, with a potential duel perhaps aiding First Appeal, Broken Border, and Paz the Bourbon.

First post starting Wednesday is 12:55 p.m. Eastern and there is a pick six carryover of $30,611.

KEY CONTENDERS

First Appeal, by First Defence
Last 3 Beyers: 73-69-77

◗ Her off-the-pace running style fits the expected shape of the race, and Rice believes seven furlongs should be ideal for this filly.

◗ She is 2 for 2 on turf at Belmont.

Driven by Speed, by Overdriven
Last 3 Beyers: 36-80-80

◗ Won her first two starts on turf, including a $40,000 seven-furlong maiden-claiming race here May 4.

◗ Her last-place finish on closing day in Saratoga is a throwout as she broke through the starting gate before the race and fell down.

“I think seven furlongs on the turf is her preferred distance and surface,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Even though she was able to get the job done going a mile at Saratoga, I think seven furlongs when she broke her maiden was a visually more impressive performance.”

Paz the Bourbon, by Mission Impazible
Last 3 Beyers: 78-76-75

◗ Finished fourth as the favorite in her last two starts, including a 1 3/4-length defeat going six furlongs in this condition Sept. 8.

“She has been real unlucky this summer,” trainer Mark Hennig said. “She’s had some troubled trips.”

Broken Border, by Broken Vow
Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-73

◗ Came off a year layoff to win a maiden $40,000 claiming race by 12 1/4 lengths over this course and at this distance.

◗ Back with New York-breds and sprinting after finishing fifth against open company going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga last out.