Tossup hopes to start career with Lynbrook triumph

ELMONT, N.Y. – Two of the first four winners of the $100,000 Lynbrook Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies were first-time starters. Trainer Rick Violette hopes to improve on that stat when he sends out Tossup for her career debut in Sunday’s fifth renewal of the Lynbrook at Belmont Park.

The Lynbrook, at six furlongs, is the feature race on a nine-race program on closing day of the Belmont Park spring-summer meet. Following four dark days, racing on this circuit moves to Saratoga beginning Friday.

Tossup is a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile who was purchased for $230,000 by Ralph Evans as a yearling at Keeneland. She is a half-sister to Pauseforthecause, a filly who won her career debut at Saratoga last August.

Of the nine entrants in the Lynbrook, six are maidens, three of whom are first-time starters. There are two winners on dirt, and a third won her debut on turf.

Violette surmised that a maiden race at Saratoga could be equally as tough as the Lynbrook and liked how his filly has trained lately enough to try her in this spot.

“She’s got a bit of quality, her brain’s good, she’s taken everything well, her last couple of breezes have been good,” Violette said.

Joe Bravo rides from post 8.

Positively Jean won her debut on turf for trainer Danny Gargan, who said the timing and six-furlong distance of that June 29 race were the reasons he started her on turf.

“Do I think she’s grass? No,” said Gargan, who obtained the filly through Oracle Bloodstock, which purchased her for $47,000 last summer at Saratoga. “She doesn’t have a huge turf pedigree. I thought with her fitness level she would skip across the grass.”

Gargan noted that Positively Jean was favored in that nine-horse field “because of her works on dirt.”

Looking at the field, Gargan said he thinks Positively Jean could be “controlling speed.”

“My filly’s fast out of the gate,” he said.

Jason Servis sends out Midnitesalright, who finished fourth to the highly regarded Nonna Madeline in a June 23 maiden race at Monmouth Park. Servis, who entered the final two days of the meet with 19 wins from 40 starters, is adding blinkers to Midnitesalright, who appeared to be trying to bear out down the backside in her debut.

She’s Trouble dwelt at the start, spotting the field about 10 lengths, before finishing well along the rail to be third to fellow Lynbrook starters Native Dawn and Princess Pinky in a June 14 maiden race at Belmont.

Native Dawn was the recipient of a perfect trip that day, and pulled away nicely in the stretch under Jose Ortiz.

Ice Lady runs back 11 days after winning her debut at Delaware Park for Michael Gorham. First-time starters Maiden Beauty and Sander’s Empire complete the field.