Suffolk cards 13 races for Saturday

Racing resumes at Suffolk Downs Saturday for the second of three weekends of summer racing, although minus the intended headliner, the $100,000 Drumtop, which was not carded due to insufficient entries.

Even without the Drumtop, the Suffolk show goes on with 13 races Saturday, although one race, the $50,000 Last Dance for Massachusetts-breds, goes strictly as an exhibition. That leaves 12 races on the wagering menu, most with deep fields.

Seven of those races are on grass, including the 10th, a $50,000 first-level allowance at a mile and 70 yards that serves as the day’s feature. A horse who just ran at Belmont Park, Mascarello, likely will go favored. He is dropping in class out of the New York-bred allowance ranks for trainer Jim Bond, who has named Dylan Davis to ride.

Davis, whose regular circuit is New York, rode at Suffolk opening weekend in June, riding four winners and five runner-up finishers from 19 mounts. That netted him a $2,000 bonus for winning a jockey challenge competition. Another such competition is set for Saturday and Sunday.

Unlike Mascarello, who is winless in 2018, Fire On Fire has notched a victory this year, taking a $25,000 conditioned claimer March 30 at Gulfstream Park. That performance netted him an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. He then returned to finish fifth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, in a first-level allowance at Belmont June 16.

Panama Papers won a maiden-claiming race at Gulfstream March 30 and then had two runner-up finishes there, with one of those races coming in an allowance. He rallied to be fourth in an allowance on the Suffolk grass last month.

Meanwhile, in the Last Dance, Dr Blarney seeks to win the race for the third straight year. Perfect in seven starts on dirt at Suffolk Downs, all for owner-breeder Joseph DiRico, he won the 2016 Last Dance by 19 lengths and last year’s race by 8 ¾ lengths.

Tammi Piermarini, aboard for 16 of his 19 career starts, returns to ride for trainer Karl Grusmark.

Two more $50,000 stakes for Massachusetts-breds are on tap for Sunday, when Suffolk again runs 13 races.