Rossa Veloce doesn't find much class relief in Dancin Renee
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At first blush it might appear Rossa Veloce is getting some class relief in the $125,000 Dancin Renee on Sunday at Belmont Park as she’s moving into the New York-bred ranks after starts in consecutive graded stakes.
But it’s no easy spot.
“It’s a pretty competitive field,” trainer Rob Atras said. “There’s definitely some nice fillies and mares in this race. No slouches.”
The Dancin Renee, which will be run at six furlongs, drew a field of seven, including stakes winners Betsy Blue, Sterling Silver, and Bank On Anna. Adding further depth to the lineup is Grannys Connection, who is seeking her fifth straight win after blitzing through her conditions by a combined margin of 27 1/4 lengths.
Rossa Veloce – who lives up to her name as a “red,” or chestnut, mare who is “quick” – used her speed to wire open company in the $100,000 Correction in March at Aqueduct. She advanced to graded company from there, and in her most recent start finished third in the Grade 3 Vagrancy over 6 1/2 furlongs on May 14 at Belmont.
“I thought she ran a great race,” Atras said. “She ran her heart out. She caught some real nice mares coming up from Florida.”
Rossa Veloce set the pace until overtaken by Caramel Swirl, who had wintered in Florida. It was the second graded stakes victory for Caramel Swirl, who last year won the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland.
As for Rossa Veloce, she has since been working regularly at Belmont Park. She will start from post 2 under Manny Franco.
“She’s drawn inside some of the other speed,” Atras said. “It will be up to Manny to figure out what we need to do. She’s rated before, sat just off of it with Manny. If you can get a clear lead, obviously that’s what you want to do. What makes her a nice filly is she also rates.”
Rossa Veloce is a daughter of Girolamo who has earned just more than $500,000. She races for Robert Derr.
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Betsy Blue and Sterling Silver can take advantage if the pace gets too hot in the Dancin Renee. The three-time stakes winner Betsy Blue has used stalking tactics to earn more than $650,000, while two-time stakes winner Sterling Silver is turning back in distance off a runner-up finish in the $200,000 Critical Eye at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont.
Grannys Connection, who is a speed horse, comes off a win over first-level allowance rivals May 28 at Monmouth Park. She covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.60 and equaled her best Beyer Speed Figure, an 88. Prior to the start, Grannys Connection won back-to-back allowances for New York-breds at Aqueduct. Her streak began with a maiden special weight in her second career start Jan. 15.
Eric Cancel has the mount on the 4-year-old daughter of Connect for trainer Tom Morley. She will start from post 5.
◗ Grade 2 winner Law Professor is due to return to Belmont Park in the next week after being freshened at Twin Creeks Farm, Atras said. “We just wanted to give him a break,” he said, adding the goal is to target a fall and winter campaign.
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