Sprint may be too short for Moshe Diane

OZONE PARK, N.Y. –For nearly three weeks, trainer David Donk has had to play the role of spectator rather than participant when it comes to racing. A quarantine placed on his Belmont Park barn – a result of a case of equine herpesvirus contracted by one of trainer Chris Englehart’s horses – meant that Donk had to train after regular training hours and he could not run horses from Nov. 20 though Wednesday.

That quarantine will be lifted beginning Thursday. Donk had two runners scheduled to run on the Thursday card and has two more entered for Friday, including Moshe Diane, who runs in the featured first-level New York-bred allowance at six furlongs.

Donk said he believes six furlongs may be too short for Moshe Diane – who finished a late-running second in this condition on Nov. 17 going a mile – but finding route races has been a chore.

“She did win going six [furlongs] at Saratoga – good ride by Johnny [Velazquez], no speed in there that day – but she’ll be a better filly going long,’’ Donk said. “Not that she can’t run good there, but I got to say she ran second last time at a mile and that’s what she really wants to do. She’s very one paced.”

Velazquez is scheduled to ride Moshe Diane from post 4.

Myrtle’s Gray, a 3-year-old daughter of Oratory, makes her first start since finishing a well-beaten fourth in the Lottsa Talc Stakes on April 1. Trained by Wesley Ward back then, Myrtle’s Gray has been turned over to David Duggan. Myrtle’s Gray has seven works since mid-October, including a half-mile move in 47.55 seconds over Belmont’s training track on Monday. That move was the fastest of 61 at the distance.

“She seems sharp,” Duggan said. “She had a small injury after the last time she ran and they basically gave her time and brought her back. She’s working well and doing good.”

Song of Broadway was reclaimed for $25,000 on Nov. 11 by trainer Linda Rice, after she lost the filly for $20,000 on Oct. 21. Song of Broadway won both of those races. She finished second behind Moshe Diane in a statebred $50,000 claiming race at Saratoga on July 31.

◗ In addition to lifting the quarantine on Donk and Englehart’s Belmont barn beginning Wednesday, a quarantine placed on Englehart’s farm in upstate New York and his barn at Finger Lakes is expected to be lifted on Dec. 15. That will allow horses from Finger Lakes to ship in and race at Aqueduct.

◗ Friday is the last day of turf racing in New York for 2010.