Stallion Series attracts grab bag of contenders
Three-year-old New York-breds provide a Father’s Day stakes doubleheader at Belmont Park, with divisions of the New York Stallion Series scheduled for the Widener turf at seven furlongs.
Offspring of Freud combine to make up seven of 17 entrants in the two races. Fenwick Hall and Payment Terms, both by Freud, are two of seven in the Spectacular Bid, which is race 3 at 2:22 p.m. Eastern. The Cupecoy’s Joy division for fillies is race 6 at 3:55. Freud is represented by half the field: Amazing Anne, Dreamboat Annie, Freudie Anne, Loon River, and Perfect Freud.
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The only two runners by Posse – Possessed in the Spectacular Bid and The Lewis Dinner in the Cupecoy’s Joy – are stakes winners. However, neither has run on turf before.
Possessed began his career with a productive seven-race campaign at Aqueduct, highlighted by a third in the Jimmy Winkfield and a pace-pressing win in the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series. He looks to rebound after breaking toward the rear and failing to factor in the Mike Lee.
Secured Position ships in from Monmouth Park and makes his seasonal bow in the Spectacular Bid for Russell Cash. As a debuting 2-year-old last July, Secured Position invaded Belmont for a front-running maiden win over Good Luck Gus, who would go on to win the New York Breeders’ Futurity and Damon Runyon.
Cash, who won last year’s Cupecoy’s Joy with Old Harbor, said, “I was pretty happy with him.”
Secured Position’s only other start came a month later when he was second in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth, which had been taken off the turf.
Cash noted that Secured Position’s full brother Social Rebellion finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, on turf in the Stallion Series last year and won a maiden race on turf.
“So, it’s in the breeding,” Cash said.
Cutting back in the Spectacular Bid from wins at 1 1/16 miles on turf are Ex Ex Ex and Mark My Style, who lit up the tote board at 14-1 and 20-1 in May.
The Lewis Dinner is the only Cupecoy’s Joy runner lacking experience on turf. The probable pacesetter, she recently worked twice over the Aqueduct course, capped by a bullet half-mile over soft going Thursday.
Dreamboat Annie and Freudie Anne finished behind The Lewis Dinner in the Fifth Avenue division of the Stallion Series on Aqueduct’s main track, but the Freud fillies are each 2 for 2 on grass.
KEY CONTENDERS, Race 3
Secured Position (Beyers: 65-58)
◗ He has been gelded since a runner-up finish in the Tyro behind Souper Colossal, who then won the Sapling by 5 1/2 lengths.
Fenwick Hall (Last 3 Beyers: 75-69-70)
◗ An improving full sister to J.A. Gimma and N.Y. Stallion winner Miss Narcissist, she takes on the boys.
Mark My Style (Last 3 Beyers: 75-54-52)
◗ He has earned $38,970 since being claimed three starts ago for $40,000, capped by an optional-claiming win.
key CONTENDERS, Race 6
Freudie Anne (Last 3 Beyers: 82-72-86)
◗ The versatile East View winner is perfect from two starts on Belmont turf.
The Lewis Dinner (Last 3 Beyers: 47-73-75)
◗ Bore out badly when second as the 11-10 choice in the Fifth Avenue to start the year before backing up readily in the Bouwerie.
Perfect Freud (Last 3 Beyers: 76-64-66)
◗ Big allowance win first off the claim.
Dreamboat Annie (Last 3 Beyers: 72-73-72)
◗ Impressive wide run on the turn to win recent allowance dash.