Vision Perfect returns, hopes to end four-race skid

ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time Vision Perfect sprinted on the Belmont turf, he won a high-priced optional-claiming race at odds of 5-1.

Winless in four starts since, Vision Perfect returns to Belmont and to a sprint in Thursday’s third-level optional $80,000 claiming feature at six furlongs.

Vision Perfect took advantage of a strong pace Oct. 14 to win here going seven furlongs. He wasn’t offered for the $80,000 claiming price that day, but he is in for the tag Thursday.

Vision Perfect, typically trained by David Donk, spent the winter in south Florida with trainer Phil Gleaves, and had no success in his three races, all going two turns.

“He likes some cut in the ground,” said Donk, who is the trainer of record on Thursday. “The ground was too firm for him in Florida.”

Vision Perfect is 4 for 20 in his career, but he is 3 for 9 at Belmont.

“I think he’s better off the pace and it looks like there’s plenty of speed in there,” Donk said.

Loose On the Town could be the primary speed in this field. Loose On the Town has raced twice on turf. He finished third, beaten a neck, in a second-level allowance last September here. He returned from a layoff with a front-running 2 3/4-length allowance win on the turf at Keeneland on April 23.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Loose On the Town developed quarter cracks following his third-place finish last fall, which is why he was off for so long.

Lynch said that if Loose On the Town can go farther than six furlongs he would like to point him to the Woodbine Mile later this year.

Thursday’s feature includes sprint stakes winners King Kranz and Jan’s Reserve. King Kranz is trying turf for the first time while Jan’s Reserve wona maiden race on the turf at Belmont in the fall of 2015 before pulling a 21-1 upset in the King’s Swan Stakes at Aqueduct on dirt.

KEY CONTENDERS

Vision Perfect, by Pollard’s Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-74

◗ Earned his highest career Beyer, a 98, winning a seven-furlong race at Belmont last October.

◗ His form is dirtied up with three lackluster races over a Gulfstream Park turf course that was probably more firm than he prefers.

Loose On the Town, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-87

◗ Has run two very strong races on turf, including a 2 3/4-length victory just 19 days ago when put on Lasix for the first time.

◗ May have to avoid an early pace challenge from Big Rock.

King Kranz, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 72-87-89

◗ Worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds in company over the turf Monday and seemed to get over the ground well.

“He seemed to enjoy it and it was a nice breeze visually,” trainer John Terranova said. “We’re all hoping it might lead to something good.”