Toner has added incentive to win Wonder Again Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Toner looks at the field assembled for Sunday’s $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park and comes to the same conclusion as most handicappers.
“You can’t throw anybody out in this spot,” Toner said.
In Time and Motion, Toner has the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field 3-year-old fillies entered for the Wonder Again, named after a multiple Grade 1 winner whom Toner trained.
Time and Motion, a daughter of Tapit, is 2 for 2 this year and is coming off a decisive victory in the Memories of Silver at Aqueduct on April 24. She has had four breezes since, including a solid five-furlong move in 1:01.20 under regular rider John Velazquez last Saturday.
“She’s doing super. She’s on top of her game,” Toner said. “Naturally, I’d love to see her win for her, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to win the Wonder Again; it would mean a lot to me, too.”
The Wonder Again is run at 1 1/8 miles, a distance that Time and Motion has yet to attempt. The Wonder Again could also be run over soft turf if the forecast for rain Sunday holds true.
Toner said he’s not concerned about the distance and believes Time and Motion’s performance in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths “showed she could handle yielding ground.”
Time and Motion, who will break from post 2, will face four horses from the stable of Chad Brown, who won this race last year with the brilliant Lady Eli. Brown sends out Elysea’s World, Grey Star, Verbouwen, and Last Waltz. In the Memories of Silver, Last Waltz dead-heated for second with Pricedtoperfection, 1 1/4 lengths behind Time and Motion.
Harmonize, a three-time stakes winner for Bill Mott, comes off a troubled third in the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill on Oaks Day.
Wonder Again, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Time and Motion, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 82-78-81
◗ Has breezed four times since her victory in the Memories of Silver, and Toner sees an improving filly.
“We’ve had plenty of time between races. She’s getting bigger and strong all the time,” Toner said. “The further we go on with these races, the tougher they get. With a field like that, you have to step up your game.”
Elysea’s World, by Champs Elysees
Last Beyer: 83
◗ Was visually impressive in winning her North American debut going 1 1/16 miles off an 11-month layoff with hardly any urging from Javier Castellano in the stretch.
“We asked her to do a lot of things she hadn’t done before, and she did everything so professionally,” Brown said. “We weren’t surprised. Hopefully, she moves forward.”
Grey Stark, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 83-61-60
◗ Came off an eight-month layoff to run a good second behind Elysea’s World in an allowance race.
“We really liked her at 2. Unfortunately, she was injured and went to the sidelines,” Brown said. “She came back in fine shape, was very pleased with her race. I don’t think the extra distance will hurt her.”
Verbouwen, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 79-77-66
◗ She has won both of her starts this year, including a maiden race at 1 3/16 miles. Her allowance win at Keeneland going 1 1/8 miles came over soft turf.