Rich juvenile race part of interesting Thursday card
There are plenty of angles to consider on an interesting Thursday card at Belmont Park that includes the first New York starter of trainer Michael Dickinson’s comeback, two other live Maryland shippers, and a host of runners returning from layoffs.
The nine-race program begins with a $100,000 maiden race for 2-year-olds (What, no Wesley Ward?) and includes four allowance or optional-claiming races. Rain was expected here Tuesday and was possible Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully the four turf races stay on the green.
Race 1: The New York Racing Association has scheduled six $100,000 maiden races for 2-year-olds to prepare horses for a pair of $200,000 stakes on June 10, the Astoria and Tremont.
Thursday’s race has attracted eight colts, including Maryland shipper Fuhrlong, who is trained by Phil Schoenthal. Furhlong is a half-brother to Miss Behaviour, who won the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont in 2013 for Schoenthal.
In his April 21 debut at Aqueduct, Fuhrlong finished second by three-quarters of a length to the Todd Pletcher-trained 1-5 favorite Silver Mission. It was more than five lengths back to the third-place runner.
Race 3: Two of the top players in this high-level optional claimer at a mile on turf are Toledo Eddie and Nonna’s Boy.
Toledo Eddie has won five races in a row since December, including two at Aqueduct, since being acquired by David Jacobson. Toledo Eddie is 0 for 12 on turf, but his speed makes him dangerous regardless of surface. He is entered for an $80,000 claiming tag.
Nonna’s Boy, trained by Pletcher, hasn’t raced since October but won the first time back following an eight-month layoff last year.
Race 4: Dickinson won with his first starter following an eight-year break from training at Laurel Park on April 2. His second starter finished an unlucky sixth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, after being stuck in traffic last Friday at Laurel. He sends out the first-time starter Val D’ Isere in this 1 1/4-mile maiden race on turf.
Val D’ Isere has been working at Dickinson’s Tapeta Farm in Maryland since October. Expect her to be fit, and it is noteworthy that he sends her to New York.
Race 6: Kerjillion makes his first start following a 19-month layoff for Chad Brown in this New York-bred allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Kerjillion won a statebred maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths at 3-5 before going to the sidelines.
Race 7: Among the favorites in this second-level optional sprint are Victory Is Sweet, who makes her first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga for Michelle Nevin, and Outlash, whom owner Mike Repole has transferred to trainer Bruce Levine.
It’s been a long time since Juba has won, but he is talented. On Sunday, his Moneigh, which he painted himself, sold for $1,283 to raise money for Thoroughbred aftercare.
Race 8: The feature is a first-level optional race at a mile for 3-year-old fillies. Browse (Shug McGaughey), Almina (Christophe Clement), and My Girl Corey (Brown) will all have their backers, meaning that the improving In the Navy Now, trained in Maryland by Mike Trombetta, may be overlooked. One concern is that a one-turn mile may be too short for the long-winded daughter of Midshipman.