Top three chased a future stakes winner last time out

Spungie, Big Al’s Gal, and Pandamom all bring the same red-hot company line into Thursday’s featured eighth race at Belmont Park.

The first-level allowance is for fillies and mares bred in New York. It will be run over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. The feature opens an extended race week. Belmont will race through Monday. During the holiday stretch, there are six stakes races scheduled, including the Grade 2 Suburban on Saturday. The race is a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Spungie could go favored Thursday off her runner-up finish at this level June 5 at Belmont. She was beaten a neck by Runaway Rumour, who returned to action Saturday at Belmont and defeated open company in the $100,000 Wild Applause, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

Big Al’s Gal was fourth in the same June 5 allowance as Spungie, and Padamom finished fifth in the race.

As for Spungie, she’s worked back twice since her meeting with Runaway Rumour. Her latest move was a half-mile in 49 seconds on Sunday at Belmont. Spungie earned a career-high Beyer of 80 for her effort last out, which was her first start against winners. Spungie won her maiden on April 25, in an off-the-turf maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont.

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Joel Rosario, who has been aboard Spungie for her last two starts, has the mount from post 3. The Hard Spun filly with tactical speed is owned by Diane Manning and trained by Bill Mott.

Big Al’s Gal can be closer to the pace than she found herself last time, when she closed from 10th to finish 4 3/4 lengths behind Runaway Rumour. Earlier in her career, Big Al’s Gal won her maiden wire-to-wire and has since tracked or stalked the pace in the majority of her races. Jose Ortiz has the mount for breeder and owner Wachtel Stable and trainer Chris Englehart.

Pandamom sat just off the pace when facing Runaway Rumour and finished 5 1/4 lengths behind that one. For this trip, Pandamom, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Governor Malibu, will add blinkers. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount for breeder and owner Oak Bluff Stables and trainer Christophe Clement.

Ok Honey exits a race that has produced two next-out winners. She was third in a $25,000 claiming race against open company May 9 at Belmont. That race’s fifth-place finisher, Flat Awesome Jenny, has won back at the same level at Belmont, and the sixth-place finisher, Gringotts, has captured an allowance at Finger Lakes.

Emma and I is one of the best-bred runners in the field as a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Wild Dude. Pure Bode, meanwhile, is a half-sister to $2 million earner Pure Sensation.

◗ Jockey Jose Lezcano, who was scheduled to ride Runaway Rumour in the Wild Applause, took off his mounts earlier on the Saturday card and did not ride Sunday.

Agent Jason Beides told New York Racing Association publicity that Lezcano injured his right shoulder when he was unseated from his mount Life Is Great while the 2-year-old was warming up for the second race Saturday. Lezcano is named on horses Thursday and Friday.