Salty bunch meets in turf sprint
Friday’s featured eighth race is an optional claimer for open company, but New York-breds account for six of the nine entered for turf in the six-furlong dash on the inner course, headed by the hard-knocking veterans Sandy’z Slew and Summer Breezing.
Based on their recent form at Saratoga, any among the closely matched triumvirate of Sandy’z Slew, Summer Breezing, and the Florida-bred Tripski is eligible to go favored in the $80,000 sprint, which carries second-level allowance conditions. Summer Breezing, Tripski, and Barrel of Love are the three turf-meant runners entered for the optional $62,500 tag.
Trained by Richard Schosberg, Sandy’z Slew was favored under these conditions last time out, finishing second by a nose, with Tripski another nose back in third.
“We had a good Saratoga, and it could have been a great Saratoga if a couple of photos had gone the other way,” said Schosberg, whose stakes-winning sprinter Myfourchix was beaten by a head five days after Sandy’z Slew lost.
Summer Breezing went wire to wire first time off the claim July 26 and was among 11 Saratoga winners for trainer Jeremiah Englehart, who had a breakout summer, finishing eighth in the standings and posting an average winning mutuel of $14.90.
Tripski was coming off an 82-day layoff when a fast-finishing third behind Sandy’z Slew on Aug. 26. His late run would be enhanced should Summer Breezing wind up in an early duel with Sleeping Giant, a 3-year-old who comes off a pace-pressing fifth in the Quick Call Stakes.
Contested early fractions would also aid Barrel of Love, who has been idle since he was stymied in the stretch while finishing ninth going long July 25.
KEY CONTENDERS, race 8
Sandy’z Slew (Last 3 Beyers: 88-93-91)
◗ He has finished in the money in all five of his starts on Belmont turf.
Summer Breezing (Last 3 Beyers: 90-88-83)
◗ He is 2 for 2 on Belmont turf, including a win in the Tiller Stakes in 2012.
◗ With 56 wins, Englehart is the second-leading trainer at Finger Lakes behind his father, Chris Englehart. “I’ve been blessed with a good year, and it wouldn’t be possible without my staff, considering all the travel I do,” he said.
Tripski (Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-82)
◗ He has finished in the money in all five of his starts this year at age 8.
◗ Won his only prior six-furlong turf race.
Barrel of Love (Last 3 Beyers: 76-86-91)
◗ The field’s top money earner, he boasts 10 exacta finishes from 20 starts on Belmont turf.
◗ He won twice at six furlongs over the local courses earlier in his career, including a maiden win in 2010.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Saratoga Dreamer. Trainer Christophe Clement is 42-12-6-9 with a $2.32 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf in sprints. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Captain Gaughen. Trainer James Ryerson is 12-6-1-2 with a $7.42 ROI over the past two years with jockey John Velazquez aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan