Touchofstarquality to make stakes debut in State Dinner

ELMONT, N.Y. – Touchofstarquality, a gelding who has shown plenty of talent, makes his stakes debut in Monday’s $100,000 State Dinner Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 1/16-mile dirt race for older males shares top billing on the 10-race Fourth of July card with the $100,000 Manila Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf.

Owner Samantha Siegel and trainer Michelle Nevin have shown remarkable patience with Touchofstarquality, who is making just his 10th career start midway through his 6-year-old season. He is coming off a 2 1/4-length allowance win May 21 for which he earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure. It was his first start off an eight-month layoff and his first since being gelded. Nevin had previously said that Touchofstarquality was gelded because he’s such a big, heavy horse who put so much effort into his races that they would take a toll on him.

“He’s doing a lot better, and he’s trained really well up to this race,” Nevin said Saturday. “If he runs anything like he did last time, we’re very live.”

In his allowance win, Touchofstarquality displayed previously unseen speed, going gate to wire from the outside post. On Monday, he breaks from the rail in what should be a five-horse field, as Allied Air Raid will scratch after running in Saturday’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park.

“Last time was the first time he showed that kind of speed out front,” Nevin said. “It doesn’t mean he has to do that again.”

Jose Ortiz, the meet’s leading rider, has the call on Touchofstarquality.

State Dinner (Race 4)

KEY CONTENDERS

Touchofstarquality, by Mineshaft

Last 3 Beyers: 100-88-93

◗ Nevin said she felt the State Dinner “was the next appropriate step” coming off a solid allowance win that produced next-out Brooklyn Handicap winner Shaman Ghost.

◗ He’s finished worse than second only twice in nine career starts and is 3-1-1 from five starts at Belmont.

Comfort, by Indian Charlie

Last 3 Beyers: 98-80-90

◗ Came off a 6 1/2-month layoff to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths here May 29.

“We thought we were asking a lot off of a pretty good layoff and running long,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He ran to his training.”

◗ Scratched out of the Salvator Mile to run here.

Elnaawi, by Street Sense

Last 3 Beyers: 93-88-90

◗ Only stakes winner in the field, having taken the Native Dancer at Laurel in January 2015.

◗ Finished a late-running third, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in Grade 2 Brooklyn going 1 1/2 miles.

◗ Four of his five wins have come at this 1 1/16-mile distance.