Zada Belle in softer spot

Zada Belle, whose only two subpar performances in six starts this season came against Grade 2 competition, faces fillies and mares she should be able to handle in the $60,000 Seton Hall University Stakes at the Meadowlands.

In her only two starts against non-graded stakes company since June, the 4-year-old Zada Belle easily won both times, posting identical Beyer Speed Figures of 99.

Her two most dangerous rivals in the six-furlong Seton Hall appear to be Shananies Song and Control System.

Shananies Song turned in a rare dud last time out in the Drumtop at Suffolk Downs after three consecutive solid efforts sprinting at Monmouth Park, Philadelphia Park, and Laurel Park. Her trainer, Ned Allard, is 4 for 8 with non-layoff sprinters he has shipped to the Meadowlands the last five years, including a pair of stakes winners, Favalora and I'mtoogoodtobetrue, according to DRF's Formulator.

Control System was sharp last winter, winning back-to-back stakes over Aqueduct's inner track and finishing second in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel. But she has failed as the odds-on favorite in her two starts since then, fading to third after dueling to deep stretch in a stakes restricted to Pennsylvania-breds not quite two months ago.