Scarly Charly tops Belmont allowance field
ELMONT, N.Y. – A bit ambitiously placed at times, Scarly Charly looks well spotted to win a race Thursday when he heads a field of five entered in an $85,000 third-level allowance race at Belmont Park.
Scarly Charly, trained by Mike Hushion, is coming off a 1 1/4-length loss to the Todd Pletcher-trained Catron in a similar spot on June 18. In that race, Catron, making his first start in 13 months, received a perfect trip and won for the fourth time in six career starts.
Scarly Charly pressed the pace in his first start off a five-month layoff and turned aside stablemate Loki’s Vengeance for second.
“I certainly liked his last race a lot,” Hushion said of Scarly Charly’s effort. “He kept running; he just couldn’t catch the winner. He dug in pretty good the whole way.”
Since moving to Hushion’s barn in the spring of 2014, Scarly Charly has 2 wins from 7 starts. Two of his losses came in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap (seventh) and the Grade 2 Kelso (fourth).
Marriedtothemusic, trained by Linda Rice, is making his second start off the layoff. In his first start in six months, which came in the G. W Barker Stakes at Finger Lakes, the front-running Marriedtothemusic broke last, rushed up and had to settle for second behind Frisky Warrior, who has since come back to win again.
Marriedtothemusic was entered in an allowance race on July 3 here but was scratched after hitting his head in the gate.
Marriedtothemusic may have to deal with some early pressure from Integrity, who breaks from the rail. Lucky Lotto and Tenango complete the field.
KEY CONTENDERS:
Scarly Charly (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-89)
He makes his second start off a layoff for a barn that does well in such circumstances. He is also making his third start since being outfitted with blinkers.
“I’m not sure,” Hushion said when asked if the blinkers have helped. “He had run some good very good races without them. You’re always guessing a little bit with blinkers. He may be a little more focused.”
Apprentice Eric Cancel rides from post 4.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Scarly Charly. Trainer Mike Hushion is 21-6-4-2 with a $3.37 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Belmont in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Marriedtothemusic (Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-68)
He finished second as the favorite in the G. W. Barker Stakes at Finger Lakes when compromised by a bad break. Then he was scratched at the gate prior to July 3 allowance race here.
“He’s had a few little gate issues so I’ve schooled him quite a bit,” Rice said. “Hopefully, he’ll break and lead the way home.”
Cornelio Velasquez rides from post 2.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Integrity. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is 15-6-2-3 with a $5.95 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt on the NYRA circuit in the first start following a claim. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan