Homeland Security faces small field

The seventh race Sunday at Belmont Park is a $90,000 allowance at 1 1/4 miles on turf that presents several “firsts” for likely favorite Homeland Security – her first race in nearly eight months, her first attempt against second-level allowance competition, and her first race on unfamiliar ground.

The most significant of those obstacles would appear to be the ground. Persistent rain all week in the New York area figures, at best, to leave the turf course damp, or at worst, could result in the seventh race – and potentially other scheduled grass races on the card – getting transferred to the main track. Homeland Security is untested on wet grass or any form of dirt, having raced exclusively on firm turf over her four-race career.

What she does have, however, are two victories at Sunday’s distance, with the latest coming when she last started Sept. 27 at Belmont. That day she surged clear with a wide bid, posting an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, a number that exceeds her opponents’ highest figures.

Irad Ortiz returns in the irons for trainer Chad Brown, who has put his filly through a steady series of workouts going all the way back to late January.

According to Daily Racing Form’s Formulator database, over the last five years Brown has won with 64 of 238 turf starters returning after layoffs of 180 days or longer, a 27 percent win record.

The potential for wet conditions appeared to limit entries for Sunday’s seventh, reflected in just four other fillies opposing Homeland Security. They include Tapella, whose six starts have come strictly on dirt; Savannah Belle, winner of a $35,000 conditioned claimer April 20 at Aqueduct; and Flower Fashion and Samuna, two horses formerly based in Europe.

Although the latter two have yet to run better than fifth in the United States in three starts between them, the circumstances favor them to contend if on rain-soaked turf. Both showed the ability to handle such types of courses before coming to America, with Flower Fashion running second over soft ground last year in France and Samuna winning a race over good-tosoft turf in 2016, also in France.

Sunday’s race appears void of speed, potentially allowing for Tapella, typically a stalking type, to inherit the lead from her inside post under John Velazquez.

A distant second to next-out Ruffian winner Pacific Wind in an allowance April 13 at Keeneland, she breezed a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on turf May 11 at Palm Beach Downs.