Witty has strong turf sibling, ready for Wolf Hill
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Witty still has a long way to go before he matches the exploits of his older half-sister, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, but his turf-sprint debut in the Laurel Dash last month was a step in the right direction.
A three-time stakes-winner on the main track, Witty rallied for second in the Laurel Dash behind Fore Harp, and will try to turn the tables on that foe in the $100,000 Wolf Hill Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at About 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.
Witty was cross-entered at Colonial Downs on Saturday, but trainer McLane Hendriks mentioned Thursday morning that he will likely run at Monmouth.
“[The Laurel Dash] was a test to see if he could handle the turf,” Hendriks said. “We tried it once before in the [2022] Penn Mile, but that was a throw-out race because the turf was super soft that night, and he just didn’t handle it well.”
Witty often breaks slowly in his races, and Hendriks will consider a late equipment change on Saturday. “I was thinking about sticking the blinkers on him for this start. I might make that change. He stood in the gate today with blinkers, and that might focus him and get him out of the gate better.”
Fore Harp has won his last three turf races and earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the Laurel Dash. A speedy son of Weigelia trained by Butch Reid, Fore Harp has won on turf that was less than firm.
Nothing Better drops out of Belmont’s Grade 1 Jaipur, a race won by Caravel. Like Fore Harp, he likes to race up and on the pace. Trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. believes the class drop could help Nothing Better, a four-time winner on Monmouth’s turf course.
Trainer Joe Orseno cross-entered Eamonn at Colonial, but plans to race at Monmouth “if it stays on the grass.”
Eamonn won his most recent race, a $60,000 handicap sprinting on Gulfstream’s turf. Orseno mentioned that was Eamonn’s first race since undergoing minor throat surgery.
Mid Day Image had a three-race win streak snapped when he was the beaten favorite in the Laurel Dash.
Belgrano finished second in last year’s Wolf Hill and would benefit from a hot pace up front.
Grade 3 winner That’s Right should be part of the expected hot pace.
Just Jeremy and Corduroy Road also are entered. Alogon is cross-entered at Colonial. Synthesis is main-track only.
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