Tam Lin heads potent Godolphin entry

ELMONT, N.Y. - Godolphin Stable will be favored to break into the win column with the entry of Tam Lin and Colony in the Double Feint, one of two $65,000 overnight turf stakes on Thursday's card at Belmont Park.

Tam Lin, who has two of Godolphin's four graded stakes placings at the meet in the Fort Marcy and Poker, is the stronger-looking half of the entry. He was given triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of his six starts at Belmont, including a win in the Grade 2 Kelso last fall. He is the main speed of the Double Feint (race 3), scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner course.

"It's eight and a half furlongs and you'd probably prefer him at a mile, but it didn't look like there was a great amount of pace," said assistant trainer Rick Mettee. "He always seems to throw in a good race at Belmont."

The X-factor is Colony, a lightly raced 4-year-old who won at eight, 10, and 12 furlongs in his first handful of European starts, including the $117,500 King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot last year.

"He's a three-other-than horse, but we're not real confident one's going to fill," explained Mettee. "Probably the best of his form is under the best of Tam Lin's form, and he was more of a 10 to 11 furlong horse overseas, but he acts like he's got a turn of foot, and if he can run eight and a half furlongs it gives us a lot more options."

March to Victory, Pick Six, Sporting Art, and Thou Swell have established grass form. Ready Set, last year's West Virginia Derby winner, tries turf for the first time in his 17th career start.

"It's something we've always wanted to try, but I didn't want to stick him in some real big stake," said trainer Michael Matz. "We did work him on turf at Palm Meadows, and he worked really well."

Ready Set is cross-entered in Saturday's R.R.M. Carpenter, a $100,000 dirt race, at Delaware Park.

The Virgo Libra (race 8), scheduled for a mile on the Widener course, attracted an evenly matched group of 10 New York-bred 3-year-olds.

Coronation Day, Hot Money, Katskill Bay, Pegasus Tommy D., and Strong Impact have recorded turf Beyers around 80, give or take a couple points, with Tall Poppy and Scientist not far behind.

Ziptronic, stretching out for Linda Rice, is the one to catch. Wicked Climb and That's Rich would move up in the event of a switch to dirt.