Entirely cuts back for Matron Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though Entirely won a two-turn stakes at Gulfstream Park last month, her trainer, Jonathan Thomas, doesn’t think route racing will be her forte. At least not right now.

So, instead of potentially targeting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf next month at Churchill Downs, Thomas has opted to turn Entirely back in distance and run her in Monday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs over Belmont Park’s inner turf course. The Matron, first run in 1882, is having its 110th running on Monday, but its first on turf.

Thomas had Entirely training in Saratoga and at one point was considering the P.G. Johnson Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. But Thomas didn’t think she wanted to run that far and her owner, George Strawbridge, had another horse for that race, Varenka, who finished second.

Thomas opted to ship Entirely to South Florida, where on Sept. 1 she won the Sharp Susan Stakes, a 7 1/2-furlong race run around two turns. She steadied entering the first turn, and was steadied again entering the second turn. She rallied five wide to the front and held off a next-out winner in A Bit Special.

“The most impressive part of her race that day to me was her middle move down the backside,” Thomas said. “She was good enough to win at 7 1/2, but I’m not convinced she’s a routeof-ground filly.”

Entirely will be taking on one, maybe two, horses from Wesley Ward’s barn. Egoli will definitely start. Dragic was cross-entered against males in Sunday’s Futurity.

Egoli was entered in Saratoga but didn’t draw in from the also-eligible list. Ward sent her Sept. 16 to Belterra, where she raced wide throughout but won a five-furlong maiden race comfortably.

“She won with authority and with speed to spare,” Ward said.

Dragic finished third against males in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile, a race that may have been too far.

“I think she’s going to be a great turf sprinter,” said Ward, who thinks the Matron might be an easier race to get her into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint than the Futurity.

Tradeable, a New York-bred daughter of Exchange Rate who won her second start at Saratoga, could be live at a price for trainer John Hertler.

KEY CONTENDERS

Entirely, by Point of Entry Last 3 Beyers: 61-63-62

◗ Has won both of her starts on turf, one going five furlongs, the other going 7 1/2 furlongs around two turns.

◗ Javier Castellano, who rides at a 40 percent clip for Thomas, will ride Entirely for the first time.

Egoli, by Quality Road Beyer: 62

◗ Was visually impressive winning debut, albeit at Belterra.

◗ Ward said that Irad Ortiz Jr. had breezed Egoli in Saratoga “and loved the horse.” Was entered to run at Saratoga, but ended up on also-eligible list.

Dragic, by Broken Vow Last 3 Beyers: 64-81-NA

◗ Cuts back in distance and removes blinkers after setting the pace and fading to third in Kentucky Downs Juvenile against males last out.

◗ John Velazquez picks up the mount.