Weather could factor in allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer David Cannizzo opted to scratch Royal Inheritance from last Saturday’s $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for New York-breds to run in Wednesday’s second-level open-company allowance race that serves as the feature on Belmont Park’s nine-race card.

Though there were only six horses in the Iroquois, Cannizzo felt the pace dynamic of the race worked against his front-running filly. The Iroquois had other speed types such as Cozzy Spring and Picco Uno in it and was ultimately won by the late-running longshot Absatootly.

“I opted to put her where I think she has a much better shot to get it done and then move forward to stakes company in the winter,” Cannizzo said.

Royal Inheritance could be the primary speed in this six-horse field going 6 1/2 furlongs. Cannizzo is adding blinkers to Royal Inheritance’s equipment as she did appear to loaf a bit after making the lead in her last start, where she ultimately finished second, 3 1/2 lengths behind Cursor.

After basically running this entire meet over fast dirt and firm turf, there is rain in the forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday. Royal Inheritance has mixed results over an off track, winning an allowance race over a harrowed, muddy Belmont track in July while finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Prioress over a sealed sloppy Saratoga surface.

“You can’t tell if it was the surface in the Prioress or the competition,” Cannizzo said. “She was slipping and sliding, but that was a greasy, nasty track that day.”

Your Love, trained by Chad Brown, will likely be favored in Wednesday’s feature. She is, however, coming off a neck defeat at odds of 1-5 on closing day of the Saratoga meet in a race run over a sealed, muddy track.

KEY CONTENDERS

Your Love, by Flatter
Last 3 Beyers: 83-76-86

◗ A full sister to Economic Model, this 3-year-old filly won her first two starts, each by a neck, including a first-level allowance over a sealed, sloppy Belmont main track. The second- and third-place finishers from that June 18 race came back to win.

◗ After finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, she blew a 2 1/2-length lead in the final furlong of a similar race as this going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga.

Royal Inheritance, by Regal Ransom
Last 3 Beyers: 71-71-82

◗ New York-bred filly has finished first or second in six of seven starts, the lone exception being the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga.

◗ Did beat open company in first-level allowance race at Saratoga in gate-to-wire fashion.

◗ May have to avoid speed duel with Felini in this spot.

Felini, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 78-85-69

◗ Returns to New York after a win and a second in a pair of two-turn allowance races at Parx Racing.

◗ Freaked in the slop at Parx, winning a first-level allowance race by 18 1/2 lengths.