Snake Mountain lands in cozy spot

ELMONT, N.Y. - Snake Mountain, a winner of four races from seven starts this year, looks like he has landed in another good spot in Friday's $58,000 allowance feature at Belmont Park.

The beautifully bred Snake Mountain is one of seven older males entered in the classified allowance, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, around one turn.

Snake Mountain, a son of A.P. Indy, out of a Mr. Prospector mare, ran against tougher in his last start when he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Breeders' Cup on Aug. 17. The winner of that race was Evening Attire, who returned to win last Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Previously trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, Snake Mountain won his first three starts in this country at Aqueduct earlier in the year for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. In his most recent win, Snake Mountain, a 4-year-old gelding, won a third-level allowance here on June 2.

Snake Mountain, who has been working sharply in the mornings, drew the rail and jockey Jose Santos.

Baseball Champion, beaten by Snake Mountain in June, was a big winner around two turns at Saratoga. In his last two starts, Baseball Champion was up against it when he faced graded company in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup and Woodward.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Baseball Champion will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 6.

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. sends out a coupled entry of It's So Simple and Quiet One.

Quiet One earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102 when he easily won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on a track labeled good here on Sept. 15. It's So Simple, who has early speed, makes his first start for Dutrow after finishing second in a $75,000 claimer at Saratoga.

This is a more reasonable spot for Griffinite, who returns to the allowance ranks after butting heads with graded winners in the Massachusetts Handicap, Brooklyn, and Vosburgh.

Judge's Case, who usually picks up a piece of the purse, and New Jersey shipper Combo Nation complete the field.

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