Awesome Song speed threat

ELMONT, N.Y. – Awesome Song looks like the horse to catch and beat in Wednesday’s feature at Belmont Park, a $77,000, first-level allowance at a mile on turf.

Away from the races for more than 15 months, Awesome Song returned in March at Gulfstream Park and came from off the pace to win a maiden race by a neck at odds of 10-1. Five weeks later at Keeneland, Awesome Song set the pace going mile and was part of a four-horse finish at the wire, losing by a nose to Pour Girl while finishing second by a neck over Giada Vegas.

Brian Lynch, who has trained Awesome Song for only her two starts this year, is removing blinkers from the 5-year-old mare’s equipment on

Wednesday.

“I thought she got a little keen early the other day,” Lynch said. “I’m hoping she might settle a little bit more.”

Despite that, Lynch sees Awesome Song as the primary speed breaking from the rail and is hoping Javier Castellano can get her to go more comfortably on the front end.

“She looks like she might be the speed of the race again,” Lynch said. “Hopefully, she can clear them and settle.”

Vagabond returns from a five-month layoff for trainer Shug McGaughey in this spot. When last she ran, Vagabond had to steady sharply in upper stretch but came running late when switched to the outside and finished second behind Puca.

She was entered in a spot similar to this at Keeneland last month but was scratched due to sore feet, McGaughey said.

“I think I got her all straightened out now,” said McGaughey, who feared that the mile might be a little short for this daughter of Arch.

War Queen, third in a similar spot at Gulfstream, and Scheme are the other contenders.

KEY CONTENDERS

Awesome Song, by Awesome Again Last 3 Beyers: 77-74-58

◗ Has run well twice for Lynch since coming off a 16-month layoff.

◗ Comes out of a race where the fifth- and seventh-place finishers came back to win allowance races.

Vagabond, by Arch Last 3 Beyers: 84-88-81

◗ Steadied twice in her last start, most significantly in midstretch, in an Aqueduct allowance race last December going 1 1/16 miles.

◗ McGaughey said he’d like to run this filly farther than a mile, but this is the only race available to her for the foreseeable future.

War Queen, by Acclamation Beyers: 79-72

◗ Scratched out of an Aqueduct allowance on April 10 with “a little issue,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Looks like she’s all right now,” he said.

◗ Brown felt she had “a funny trip” when third in a 7 1/2-furlong allowance at Gulfstream in her last start.