Tenango could shine if Elusive Quality comes off turf

If the forecast proves accurate, it is likely that the opening-day feature Thursday at Belmont Park, the $100,000 Elusive Quality Stakes at seven furlongs, will be run on dirt instead of turf.

In that event, trainer David Jacobson would appear to have the horse to beat in Tenango. The runner-up in the Grade 3 General George last out, Tenango is one of four horses entered by Jacobson in the Elusive Quality. Cease and Candyman E also were entered to run only if the race is run on the main track, while Slim Shadey, a recent private purchase by Jacobson, was entered to run on turf.

Heavy rains forecast for Wednesday and showers lingering into Thursday threaten to move all turf races to the dirt.

If the track is wet, Jacobson’s confidence in Tenango increases, as he has a record of 3-2-0 from five starts. At Saratoga last summer, Tenango galloped to a two-length win in an $82,000 allowance race in the slop.

“That race in Saratoga was the same day Strapping Groom won the Forego,” Jacobson said. “It was a spectacular race, but it was just overshadowed by Strapping Groom.”

Tenango is coming off a second-place finish to Bandbox in the General George, run at seven furlongs at Laurel on Feb. 17.

“If he runs anything close to that race in this race, he’ll be right there,” Jacobson said.

Of his other two main-track-only entrants, Jacobson said he likely would run Cease but scratch Candyman E and run him in the Diablo Stakes on May 10.

Cease won a seven-furlong optional-claiming race at Belmont last fall before running ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. Most recently, he finished second in a seven-furlong optional claimer at Laurel.

“Little things keep popping up on him; I haven’t been able to get him in a groove,” Jacobson said. “When he was second last time, I think he could easily have won that race.”

The Elusive Quality is scheduled to mark the return of Black Onyx, who hasn’t run since winning the Spiral Stakes on March 23, 2013. He was scratched out of the Kentucky Derby with a chip in his left front ankle. Trained by Kelly Breen last year, he has since been moved to trainer Christophe Clement.

Clement said he has been pleased with how well Black Onyx trained this winter at Payson Park, but he has not decided whether the horse would run if the race is moved to the dirt.

“The turf, at the moment, seems to be the best way to keep him sound and bring him back,” said Clement, who added that he would need to discuss the situation with the owners. “Knowing he’s been off for so long, we might want to be a bit careful.”

Integrity, trained by Chad Brown for Robert LaPenta, has won optional-claiming races at Gulfstream and Parx in his last two starts. He is entered to run only in the event the race is run on dirt. He has a win in the mud going seven furlongs at Belmont.