Defiant Honor gets started

ELMONT, N.Y. – When trainer Jimmy Toner shipped Defiant Honor to Del Mar last fall for the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes, the last things he figured to encounter were rain, wind, and debris. Wait, debris? Just prior to the start of the Jimmy Durante, foam drain covers blew onto the turf course, causing several horses to blow the first turn of the race. Defiant Honor found herself on the early lead – where she never had been before – and did well to hold second behind Journey Home.

On Wednesday, Defiant Honor makes her 3-year-old debut in a first-level allowance race going a mile at Belmont Park. The forecast is for mostly sunny skies, light winds, and a zero percent chance of debris.

Prior to the Jimmy Durante, Defiant Honor won a maiden race by two lengths at Belmont, coming from off the pace. That is her preferred style.

Following the Jimmy Durante, Defiant Honor was sent to owner John Phillips’s farm in Kentucky for a freshening, but while there, she popped a splint bone, necessitating more time off.

“We wound up giving her more time than we expected,” Toner said. “I was hoping to have her ready earlier in the spring.”

This first-level allowance came up with a strong field of 10, including recent maiden winners Silver Dollar Diva and Mercy Ann as well as Epping Forest, a winner of three of four starts.

KEY CONTENDERS

Defiant Honor, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 72-78-69

◗ Her second-place finish in the Jimmy Durante Stakes looks even better since Journey Home won the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park last week.

◗ Makes her first start in 207 days, and Toner is only 2 for 17 over the last five years with horses returning from a layoff longer than 180 days. One of those wins came with Recepta, this filly’s full sister.

Lucky Long, by Lookin At Lucky Last 3 Beyers: 81-83-66

◗ Finished fifth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths, in the sevenfurlong Soaring Softly Stakes here on May 20.

“I thought she ran well,” trainer Tony Dutrow said. “She doesn’t have a quick enough turn of foot to sprint, but going farther, I think she fits in very, very well. I think she’ll get better. I think she’s got some improvement in her.”

Epping Forest, by Exchange Rate Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-64

◗ After winning two sprints in 23 days here against New Yorkbreds, this filly stretches out to a mile for the first time while taking on open company. She beat open company in a maiden race here as a 2-year-old.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last five years, trainer Christophe Clement is 24 for 121 with a $1.53 ROI on turf going from a sprint to a route.

Silver Dollar Diva, by Harlan’s Holiday Beyers: 85-74

◗ After losing by a length at Gulfstream in her debut, she bounced back with a 1 1/2 length front-running victory going 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct, a race that produced two nextout winners.

◗ Likely to be a pace factor again after breaking from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr.