Hoffenheim cutting back

ELMONT, N.Y. – After proving competitive in Southern California, Hoffenheim will now see where he fits in New York when he runs in a stakes-caliber allowance race that serves as the feature on Belmont Park’s nine-race Thursday card.

Trainer David Jacobson claimed Hoffenheim for $40,000 in January from trainer Simon Callaghan. In three starts since, Hoffenheim has a win and two thirds. The win came going a two-turn mile on April 22. Now, Jacobson is cutting him back to 6 1/2 furlongs.

“You need these kind of horses in New York,” Jacobson said. “He’s dying to run, he’s tearing the barn down. I wish it was a mile. He’s running so good, it’s not time to experiment.”

Hoffenheim has the outside post in the five-horse field and will be ridden by David Cohen.

Favorable Outcome and Classy Class are both dropping back into allowance company after getting beat in graded stakes.

In his only two starts this year, Favorable Outcome finished sixth in the both the Grade 1 Carter and the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.

“We’ll see if he can get back in form,” Chad Brown, trainer of Favorable Outcome, said. “He seems to be training well.”

Classy Class drops back into allowance company after finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap on March 10. While noting that Joe Rocco dropped his whip early in the race, McLaughlin acknowledged that the Tom Fool “was probably a little tough on him.”

“This is a better spot,” he said. “We’re doing well, we fit in this group right now.”

Recruiting Ready is seeking his first win since taking the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico a year ago. Candid Desire completes the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hoffenheim, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 95-94-80

◗ Won a second-level allowance going a two-turn mile at Santa Anita while three wide throughout. Multiplier, the fourth-place finisher from that race, came back to win an allowance on turf Sunday at Santa Anita.

◗ Ran a respectable third, beaten two lengths, the last time he raced at 6 1/2 furlongs, the distance of this race. Favorable Outcome, by Flatter Last 3 Beyers: 86-80-96

◗ Drops out of three graded stakes tries, including a sixthplace finish behind winner Army Mule in the Grade 1 Carter.

◗ Career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104 came the last time he raced 6 1/2 furlongs in allowance company last November at Aqueduct.

Classy Class, by Discreetly Mine Last 3 Beyers: 86-93-96

◗ May have found the field in the Grade 3 Tom Fool a bit more than he was able to handle, but did not have the greatest trip, either.

◗ Finished second to the likes of Securitiz and Vulcan’s Forge in races similar to this going a one-turn mile during the winter.

◗ He is 2 for 2 at 6 1/2 furlongs and 3 for 5 at Belmont.