Turf allowance could set up for Maxwell Esquire

ELMONT, N.Y. – Three allowance races, two scheduled for turf and one on dirt, highlight Thursday’s eight-race opening-day card at Belmont Park.

Race 5, an open second-level allowance at six furlongs on turf, marks the seasonal debuts of New York-breds Maxwell Esquire and Battle Station.

Maxwell Esquire, a 4-year-old son of Discreet Cat trained by Christophe Clement for Patricia Generazio, looks like he may get the right setup in this spot, which also carries an optional $80,000 claiming clause.

Maxwell Esquire rallied from 9 1/2 lengths back to win a first-level allowance going six furlongs over yielding Belmont turf last October. He then finished fifth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Turned Aside, in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship last November.

“They were rolling that day. He was nine lengths out of it, he got beat three lengths. He did not run a bad race,” Clement said. “He came in from Ocala a month ago. He looks well. I hope I’ve got him tight enough.”

Maxwell Esquire will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Fast Getaway, Aristocratic, and Smooth B all look to want to be part of the early pace.

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Battle Station, a 6-year-old gelding by Warrior’s Reward who is being offered for $80,000, also likes to be close up early. He did stalk a fast pace to win the Lucky Coin Stakes at 20-1 last summer at Saratoga.

Trainer Rob Atras said he gave Battle Station 60 days off on a farm in Ocala, Fla., but has liked the way he has worked toward his return.

“We were able to put in five or six decent works. His last two works were good, so hopefully he’ll be fit enough to give a top effort,” Atras said. “He’s pretty consistent. I think he’ll run well.”

Battle Station will break from the outside post in what figures to be a six-horse field once the main-track-only entrants scratch.

Race 7 is a first-level allowance scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt and features the return to the races of Pleasant Orb. That filly has not run since she finished second, 18 3/4 lengths behind Gamine, in the Grade 1 Acorn on June 20.

The 6 1/2 furlongs of this race look to be shorter than her best distance. Javier Castellano rides from the rail.

Aunt Kat, a daughter of Uncle Mo trained by Bill Mott, comes off a monster 9 3/4-length maiden victory here March 13 for which she earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. She will have to avoid a potential speed duel with Ruvies in Time.

Saratoga Affair was a debut winner in April 2020 at Gulfstream before finishing second in a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles in the mud at Belmont in June. She has not run since.

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Saratoga Affair is trained by Chad Brown, who in race 2 sends out Principled Stand in a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles over the Widener turf course.

Principled Stand, a 4-year-old son of Kingman, was a 7 1/4-length debut winner going a mile on Jan. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. In subsequent training, Principled Stand got sick and was off the work tab for a month. He shows four works since returning to training.