Saint Moon meant for turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – As well as she worked on dirt in the mornings, Saint Moon wasn’t the same horse on that surface in the afternoons.

On turf, though, Saint Moon has proven to be extremely tough, and the 3-year-old filly looms the primary speed in Friday’s $100,000 Christiecat Stakes, the opening-day feature at Belmont Park.

There are only eight races Friday at Belmont because post time is 3 p.m. as the New York Racing Association looks to work around the construction of a new hockey arena in the west parking lot of the track. Last post is 6:44 p.m.

Saint Moon, a daughter of The Factor, had trained so well on dirt that trainer Jorge Navarro ran her twice on that surface at Gulfstream. She was beaten 3 1/4 lengths in her first start and 14 3/4 lengths in her second before getting a break.

Saint Moon returned in June and promptly scored a two-length maiden win in a 5 1/2-furlong turf race. After finishing second in the Blue Sparkler Stakes, also at Monmouth, Saint Moon shipped to Saratoga to win a first-level allowance by 2 1/4 lengths in front-running fashion.

“She went through a lot of stress at Gulfstream,” Navarro said. “We gave her time off and went back to her pedigree and her works where her high leg action was always meant for turf.”

In her lone loss on turf, Saint Moon was pressed early. Navarro also said he decided to go easy on the filly for her final work before that race and that backfired. Saint Moon shows a bullet half-mile in 47 seconds at Monmouth last Saturday.

The Christiecat is a sixteenth of a mile longer than Saint Moon’s three previous turf starts, but Navarro said: “She’ll be all right. I think it’s a good spot, I think she belongs there. Now she’s got to run and prove it.”

Luis Saez rides Saint Moon from post 4.

Comedy was a Group 2 winner in Ireland as a 2-year-old and now makes her first start in almost a year and first for trainer Michael Dickinson. She did show speed in her races in France and Great Britain, but it remains to be seen if she’s fast enough to run with Saint Moon early.

Trainer Christophe Clement sends out the uncoupled entry of Brooke Marie and Rose Flower. Brook Marie won a first-level allowance going five furlongs at Monmouth in July before finishing a late-running fourth in the Galway Stakes at Saratoga in August.

“I thought she was a bit unlucky last time. She had a lot to do,” Clement said. “There is no doubt that she trains and has been acting so much better on firmer than softer turf.”

The condition of the turf course could be a question. There is a 40 percent chance of rain Friday from remnants of Hurricane Dorian.

Peaceful, who finished second behind Saint Moon in a maiden race at Saratoga, came back to win her maiden at Saratoga by a neck on July 13. She would benefit from a strong early pace on Friday.

Jennemily, who possesses some speed, Dancing Vega, Turf War, and Queen of Bermuda complete the field.