Vision Perfect can continue Donk's turnaround in allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer David Donk hopes Monday’s two-win afternoon at Belmont Park was the start of a turnaround after a prolonged slump.

Donk, who was to send out morning-line favorite Courtly Kitten in Thursday’s finale, has three runners entered on Friday’s card, including Vision Perfect in a $90,000, third-level allowance race on the Widener turf course.

Vision Perfect will be making his first start at seven furlongs but has recorded two of his three wins at Belmont.

“He’s a miler type, so seven-eighths should be okay,” said Donk, who was 2 for 60 on this circuit before he won the first and last races on Monday’s card. “He always likes a little cut in the ground. Pretty good effort last time. I would expect him to run well here again.”

Last time was Sept. 17, when, in a similar spot as this at 1 1/16 miles, Vision Perfect finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by the multiple stakes winner Lubash. Before that, Vision Perfect finished eighth in a two-turn-mile race at Saratoga.

Vision Perfect could get a good pace setup with Songsational, Solemn Tribute, and Simon Bar Sinister among the horses in this field who could show early speed.

Friday’s feature drew a solid group of nine runners, but only two horses, Songsational and Glorious Empire, have won at the seven-furlong distance.

Songsational, trained by Bill Mott, was a front-running winner of a second-level allowance here at this distance July 9. Since then, he has competed in two listed stakes.

Glorious Empire is making his first start for trainer Tom Morley and just his second of the year. Last month, he finished fifth of seven in a listed stakes over Woodbine’s synthetic surface.

KEY CONTENDERS

Songsational, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-97

◗ Lone win at Belmont came in his lone try at today’s seven-furlong distance, a race run over an extremely firm turf course.

◗ In his most recent outing, the $300,000 More Than Ready Mile at Kentucky Downs, he finished second to Watchyourownbobber, who was winning his third consecutive stakes race.

◗ Could be the fastest of the early-speed types under Jose Lezcano.

Vision Perfect, by Pollard’s Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-19

◗ Has run his best races at Belmont and with some give in the ground.

◗ Came back from a third-place finish in this condition with a best-of-22 half-mile workout in 48 seconds last week.

Solemn Tribute, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 80-97-97

◗ Drops into allowance company for the first time in a year, having made his last six starts in stakes.

◗ Shortens up from two-turn route races at Saratoga to a one-turn sprint at Belmont.

◗ Posted a front-running score in the Tropical Park Derby last December at Gulfstream.