Tapwrit back from long break

ELMONT, N.Y. – It has not been a good start to the year for the heroes of last year’s Triple Crown races.

Always Dreaming, the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner, has lost both of his starts this year and is on the farm awaiting a decision on his future. Cloud Computing, the 2017 Preakness winner, finished fourth in his lone start this year and needed surgery to remove an ankle chip.

Perhaps Tapwrit, the 2017 Belmont Stakes winner, can turns things around when he makes his 4-year-old debut in a stakes-caliber allowance race Sunday at Belmont Park. It will be his first start since he finished fourth in the Travers Stakes last August. A foot injury sidelined him last fall, and he will wear an aluminum pad on his right front foot to protect the bottom area known as the frog.

“He’s been training with it all along and seems to be handling everything well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Overall, Pletcher has liked how Tapwrit has come back as a 4-year-old.

“Physically, he looks great,” Pletcher said. “He’s grown up into a beautiful horse, has trained well. I liked the way he’s breezed. I think he’s tight enough to perform well, with obviously bigger goals down the road.”

Pletcher said that if Tapwrit runs well, which “doesn’t mean he has to win,” then the Suburban on July 7 could be a possibility.

Sunday’s race is no easy spot. Timeline, who won the 2017 Peter Pan Stakes, makes his second start of the year for trainer Chad Brown. He finished third behind Pioneer Spirit and Sunny Ridge in an allowance race going a mile April 20 at Aqueduct.

“He got the race he needed to build on,” Brown said.

Hit It Once More returns to dirt after two nondescript performances on turf. He is a three-time New York-bred stakes winner, including a front-running score in the Haynesfield going a one-turn mile in February at Aqueduct.

You’re to Blame, Hoffenheim, and T R Crew complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Tapwrit, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 98-103-88

◗ Makes his first start since a loss to West Coast in the Travers, in which he aggravated a foot injury.

◗ Solid work tab at Palm Meadows and Belmont, where he had a bullet five-furlong move in 59.60 seconds May 11.

◗ Is 1 for 2 over an off track, which he might encounter Sunday.

Timeline, by Hard Spun Last 3 Beyers: 95-86-82

◗ Is 3 for 4 in races run around one turn, including a 3 1/2-length victory in last year’s Grade 3 Peter Pan in his lone try over the Belmont main track.

◗ He is 2 for 2 over wet surfaces.

You’re to Blame, by Distorted Humor Last 3 Beyers: 91-95-94

◗ Has a win and two seconds from three starts at Belmont and is dropping into allowance company after a fifth-place finish in the three-turn, Grade 2 Charles Town Classic.