Round 4 too close to call
ELMONT, N.Y. - Her tactical speed, strong closing kick, and the presence of other speed in the race would appear to give Game Face the edge over Any Limit when those two fillies square off for the fourth time this year in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park.
At Gulfstream, Game Face defeated Any Limit in the Grade 3 First Lady and Grade 2 Inside Information, while Any Limit beat Game Face in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie. In her two victories, Game Face rallied outside of Any Limit. In the Hurricane Bertie, Game Face tried to rally inside of Any Limit. In the Vagrancy, Game Face is drawn in post 4, one position inside of Any Limit.
"There's not a whole lot separating the two of them on a given day," said Pletcher. "Depends on trip and pace scenario, that sort of thing. We're probably a little better to sit just off the pace and stalk."
Game Face is running back three weeks after finishing sixth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. Pletcher said Game Face didn't appear comfortable on the sloppy Churchill track.
"I thought she fought on and ran hard in spite of it, but I never really thought she got over the surface like she did a fast track at Gulfstream," Pletcher said.
Game Face had also been entered in Saturday's $250,000 My Juliet Stakes at Philadelphia Park, but trainer Todd Pletcher chose to keep his filly in New York.
Any Limit has been freshened since the Inside Information on March 15, and has been working well for the Vagrancy, a race her Hall of Fame trainer, Allen Jerkens, has won five times. While Any Limit, who has the outside post, has plenty of speed, Carolyn's Cat, drawn in post 2, also figures to be a pace factor.
"It's always good to be on the outside in a small field, because you always have options," Jerkens said.
Among the other three entrants, Porte Bonheur has the best chance at an upset. She won three of her last four starts in 2008, including the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Saratoga and the Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine in her last start Nov. 2.
"She ran well off the layoff last year and she worked here lights out the other day," trainer David Duggan said.
Are We Dreamin, a longshot, completes the field.