Blind Ambition in salty allowance spot

ELMONT, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher had a couple of stakes options for Blind Ambition, but opted to run the 3-year-old colt in what he hoped would be an easier spot in Thursday’s $90,000 allowance sprint at Belmont Park.

So much for that. The multiconditioned allowance came up pretty salty, but Blind Ambition might get the right set up to get the job done in the six-furlong race over the Widener turf course.

Blind Ambition, a son of Tapit out of the turf stakes-winning mare Starfish Bay, won the Quick Call Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs Aug. 9 at Saratoga. He came back in less than three weeks to run fifth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by stablemate Hieroglyphics, in the Better Talk Now Stakes going a two-turn mile.

“I’m not 100 percent sure that the distance was the issue,” Pletcher said. “We ran him back a little bit quick. He seemed to kind of struggle with the turf course around the far turn. I think backing up to six will be beneficial.”

Blind Ambition figures to get a stalking trip behind the speed in the field that includes John Jones, who returns to the races for the first time since winning the Jennings Handicap for Maryland-breds going one mile on dirt last Dec. 31. His trainer, Lacey Gaudet, believes John Jones is a turf horse, something he proved by winning the Mister Diz Stakes at Laurel in August 2016 at odds of 43-1.

“This is probably going to be the toughest spot he’s had to go in,” Gaudet said. “It is first off a layoff, there’s other speed in the race. I love that he’s on the outside. Everything we’ve thrown at him he’s handled.”

Undrafted is a multiple graded stakes winner sprinting on turf and is coming off a late-closing third in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint last out.

Angry Moon and Chief Lion are both speed horses who have done their better work on dirt.

Take Cover won the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup in 2016 but is winless in six starts since.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blind Ambition, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-69

◗ His stalking style may give him the slight edge in a competitive field, and he should appreciate cutting back to one turn and being drawn outside most of the other speed.

John Jones, by Smarty Jones Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-91

◗ Gaudet said this gelding “came back a little ouchy” from his Jennings victory and was given all the time off he needed.

◗ Gaudet was super impressed with the gelding’s six-furlong work over the Laurel turf Sept. 24 and nearly ran him in a stakes race first time back.

Undrafted, by Purim Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-90

◗ Most accomplished member of this field has a win over the course and should get a good setup in this spot.