BELMONT Brown has sharp pair for allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – As seemingly has been the case all meet long here, trainer Chad Brown brings a solid one-two punch into Friday’s allowance turf feature at Belmont Park.

Brown, who has gone 27 for 80 on turf through the first 26 days of the fall meet, sends out Call Provision and Black Sea in the multi-condition race scheduled for 1 3/8 miles over the Widener turf course.

Call Provision would actually have been a contender in Saturday’s $200,000 Mohawk for New York-breds, but Brown apparently has others to run in that spot. Call Provision, beaten a nose by Get Jets in the Ashley T. Cole here on Sept. 24, is running under the third-level condition of this race.

Black Sea just won a secondlevel optional $62,500 claimer by a head going 1 1/4 miles here on Sept. 29. Black Sea is running for the $100,000 claiming tag that this race offers.

Both horses will have to run down Roman Approval, who looks loose on the lead under Jose Lezcano. The problem for Roman Approval is that both Call Provision and Black Sea have run him down in his last two starts.

Trainer Tom Morley said the forecast for dry conditions and thus firm turf is one reason why he opted to run Roman Approval in this spot. Roman Approval is also being offered for the $100,000 tag.

“The key to Roman Approval is fast ground,” Morley said. “I could have waited another week for the two-other-than going the same trip, but looking at the weather forecast this week and realizing it is going to be sunny and it came up a short field … we opted to go in this race.”

Gold Shield makes his first start in three months. Trained by Shug McGaughey, he was run into by another horse during training one morning at Saratoga, but did not suffer any major injuries.

“He was just jarred up, nothing was broken,” McGaughey said. “He’s come back and he’s breezed really well since then. It’s surprising how quick he’s gotten back.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Call Provision, by Lemon Drop Kid Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-96

◗ He was flying from last and just got outfinished in the Ashley T. Cole last out.

◗ He is 2 for 3 with a second in three starts at 1 3/8 miles.

Roman Approval, by Roman Ruler Last 3 Beyers: 97-91-67

◗ Yielded grudgingly when Black Sea came to him in Sept. 29 optional claimer, falling a head short.

◗ Looks again to be the lone speed on paper and could be tough to catch.

◗ Has a 4-2-0 record from nine starts over Belmont’s turf courses.

Black Sea, by Dubai Destination Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-93

◗ Ended a six-race losing streak by running down Roman Approval to win an optional claimer by a head last out.

◗ Had a dream trip from the rail that day. Breaks from the outside post on Friday.

Gold Shield, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 94-94-93

◗ Always seems to be running late regardless of pace, though often just gets a minor award.

◗ Finished fourth, beaten a length in an allowance at Saratoga on opening day, a race from which the winner and runnerup won their next start.