Wincoma the ‘now’ New York-bred

ELMONT, N.Y. – New York-bred 3-year-olds were all the rage during the winter, with horses like International Star and Upstart winning graded stakes and Tencendur running second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

Unfortunately, none of three performed well in the Kentucky Derby, with Upstart finishing last, Tencendur next-to-last, and International Star having to scratch the morning of the race with a foot injury.

While all this was going on, the New York-bred Wincoma was trying to make it back to the races after bucking his shins following his maiden victory at Belmont Park last September.

If his return was any indication, he could be a New York-bred good enough to compete in open-company sprint races later this year. Monday, Wincoma will likely be favored to win his first stakes when he takes on eight 3-year-old New York-breds in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes at seven furlongs.

The Mike Lee and the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies are part of sextet of stakes on Big Apple Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

Wincoma, a son of Badge of Silver trained by Gary Sciacca, is running back on just 16 days’ rest, which is Sciacca’s primary concern.

“Coming off such a long layoff and running that big and then running right back is a concern, but he’s doing so good,” Sciacca said.

His competition includes stakes winners Possessed, Ostrolenka, and Good Luck Gus, who makes his first start since winning the Damon Runyon Stakes last December.

The Bouwerie, for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies, could be the most wide-open race on the program. A field of 10 was entered, though Dreamboat Annie was expected to run in an allowance race on Sunday’s card.

The Bouwerie features the promising Lakeside Sunset and the return of Quezon, who went 2 for 2 against New York-bred company last year before running a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle last Nov. 29.

MIKE LEE

KEY CONTENDERS

Wincoma (Last 3 Beyers: 91-70-46)

◗ Returned from an eight-month layoff to run a field of New York-bred first-level allowance foes off their feet with a front-running 3 1-4-length victory on May 9. He earned a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ He came back with a sharp three-furlong blowout which was a best-of-10 move on May 20.

Javier Castellano rides the speedy colt from post 7.

Good Luck Gus (Last 3 Beyers: 73-65-84)

◗ A multiple New York-bred stakes winner at 2, he makes first start as a 3-year-old with a decent work tab.

“He got a little something that he needed a little time for, and we did give him the time,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “I think he needs a little more distance but we need to get started. We have him fit enough to run in this race.”

Ostrolenka (Last 3 Beyer: 87-77-63)

◗ After a couple failed bids against open graded stakes company, this son of Musket Man has returned to New York-bred competition with a second and a win in a second-level allowance race.

◗ He is 3 for 3 at Belmont, where as a 2-year-old he won a maiden race by 14 1/2 lengths and the Sleepy Hollow Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths.

◗ Shows a best-of-50 half-mile move in 47 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

BOUWERIE

KEY CONTENDERS

Lakeside Sunset (Last 3 Beyers: 83-79-68)

◗ After finishing second in her debut to stablemate Fenwick Hall, she won a maiden race by four lengths over Aqueduct’s inner track on March 22.

◗ Ran third to Irish Jasper in the Belle Harbor Stakes on closing day of the Aqueduct meet. Irish Jasper came back to win the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

“My filly’s been getting just a little better each time, “ trainer Bruce Brown said. “Really, I think the sky’s the limit with her. If she keeps moving forward the way she is, I think she’ll be pretty tough. It looks like a fair amount of speed in there, but we should be either on the lead or close to it.”

◗ Javier Castellano replaces Manny Franco on Lakeside Sunset, who breaks from post 7.

“She’s kind of a free-running horse; that’s why I wanted to get Javier on her,” Brown said. “I think she’s the perfect kind of horse for him.”

Take Issue (Last 3 Beyers: 76-62-57)

◗ After winning for maiden $25,000 claiming in January, she won a statebred allowance and a division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

◗ Her off-the-pace running style should help her in this spot.

The Lewis Dinner (Last 3 Beyers: 73-75-86)

◗ Ended her 2-year-old season with a pair of restricted stakes wins sprinting.

◗ Attempted to bear out while finishing second behind Take Issue in her first start off a four-month layoff.