Rough Draft tries to stay perfect in third start
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The unbeaten Rough Draft will take on a competitive group of New York-breds on turf Sunday in the eighth race at Belmont Park.
“This will help us find out where he belongs in the pecking order,” said trainer David Duggan.
The two-other-than allowance is for 3-year-olds and up over six furlongs on the inner turf and it drew 14, with six entered main track only. Yarrow will start as a chief contender from the rail, while the promising Awesome Native moves to turf following a productive winter at Aqueduct.
Rough Draft is 2 for 2, with both of his wins coming at Aqueduct in races run over six furlongs on turf. He accounted for a maiden special weight in November, then launched his 4-year-old season in April. Rough Draft made a statement, winning a first-level allowance for New York-breds in a blazing 1:07.92.
“This is the next logical spot,” Duggan said. “It’s an acid test. There’s some [seasoned runners] in there and some new shooters. We have a license to improve second off the layoff.
“I was quite surprised with him going as fast as he went last time for a horse who looks like he needs to go a little bit farther. He doesn’t look like a sprinter. He’s got a lot of length and size to him. In Ireland, they’d probably say he looks like a jumping horse. He has quite a bit of scope to him.”
Duggan said Rough Draft is remaining at six furlongs for Sunday because of his record sprinting.
“Ultimately, we’ll probably stretch him out,” he said.
Rough Draft is a son of the War Front stallion Editorial. Rough Draft’s female family includes Marsh Side, a Grade 1 winner over 1 1/2 miles on turf. Rough Draft races for the partnership of Clear Stars Stable, Mitre Box Stable, and Big Toe Stables. He will break from post 2 under Trevor McCarthy.
Awesome Native is another up-and-coming member of the division. He is moving to turf after winning two of four starts at Aqueduct. Awesome Native is by Practical Joke, who is getting 9 percent winners on the grass. Awesome Native’s dam, Bella Kateri, registered both of her wins on turf.
Awesome Native exits a runner-up finish in a second-level allowance sprint for New York-breds that has become a key race. The winner, Listentoyourheart, came back to take a first-level allowance at Belmont with a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. The third-place finisher, Prince of Pharoahs, won a first-level allowance at Belmont, with a Beyer of 95.
Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 7 for Farone Stables and trainer Jorge Abreu.
Yarrow, an 11-time starter, comes off a runner-up finish to Runningwscissors in a second-level allowance for New York-breds on April 27 at Aqueduct. The winner covered six furlongs on firm turf in 1:08.47, then returned one start later to account for a second-level allowance against open company at Belmont with a Beyer of 94.
◗ The New York-bred Shutters is a leading contender against open company in the fourth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. He is coming off a runner-up finish at this level and overall is 3 for 5.
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