Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Hudson rematches Morrissey top two
ELMONT, N.Y. – Build to Suit will look to avenge a narrow loss to Celtic Chaos in the John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga in August when the two meet again in Saturday’s $150,000 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park.
In the Morrissey, Celtic Chaos’s head was going down while Build to Suit’s was coming up at the wire in what was a nose decision in favor of Celtic Chaos. While Celtic Chaos has not run since, Build to Suit has come back to win a second-level allowance by 2 1/4 lengths here on Sept. 14. Overall, Build to Suit, trained by Chad Brown, is 5 for 9 but he is 2 for 3 since returning from an injury that sidelined him for 14 months.
Build to Suit, who will be ridden by Manny Franco, will break from the rail in this 6 1/2-furlong race.
Celtic Chaos, trained by Brad Cox, won an off-the-turf allowance at Belmont in May before taking the Morrissey on Aug. 4. In the Morrissey, he sat a little bit closer to the pace than usual under Dylan Davis and still closed well to get the victory, his ninth from 35 career starts.
Trainer Brad Cox still believes Celtic Chaos is at his best when he can sit back and make one run.
“He’s a one-trick pony. He’ll fall out of there, find his stride and come from out of it,” Cox said. “He needs a pretty good pace up front.”
Gold for the King, who set the pace in the Morrissey only to be beaten a length, Eye Luv Lulu, Kazmania, and perhaps Morning Breez all have the potential to be on or near the lead.
Five months ago, T Loves a Fight was claimed for $10,000 by Orlando Noda. He has won four of eight starts since, including an open allowance race here on Oct. 19.
Sicilia Mike and Winston’s Chance complete the field.
Carrera Cat fits well in Iroquois
Coming off five wins in six starts, Carrera Cat stepped into the deep end of the pool taking on Come Dancing in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom last month at Belmont Park. Not unpredictably, Carrera Cat got all wet, finishing fourth to Breeders’ Cup-bound Come Dancing.
Saturday, Carrera Cat returns to New York-bred company, drew an outside post, and looks primed to return to the winner’s circle in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs. Needless to say, there’s no one of Come Dancing’s ilk in the Iroquois.
“On her best day, I don’t think we can beat Come Dancing,” said, John Morrison, the trainer of Carrera Cat. “The pace didn’t help us nor did having Minit to Stardom laying all over us. But she’s back with her own company and she’s done fine.”
Carrera Cat popped a splint on New Year’s Day, when she won a first-level New York-bred allowance at Aqueduct. Morrison said that proved to be a blessing because during her time off she was diagnosed with the beginnings of a hairline fracture that healed over several months.
“She came back a different horse,” Morrison said.
In the Gallant Bloom, Carrera Cat broke from an inside post, which basically forced jockey Rajiv Maragh’s hand to send out of the gate. In the Iroquois, she will break from post 9, which will give Maragh options.
Carrera Cat proved in winning the Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga that she can be successful from just off the pace.
Holiday Disguise finished second to Carrera Cat in the Union Avenue. Prior to that, she beat New York-breds in the Dancin Renee at Belmont.
“Holiday is actually training lights out,” trainer Linda Rice said.
Holiday Disguise breaks from the rail under Jose Lezcano.
Jc’s Shooting Star finished third in the Union Avenue on Aug. 15, came back to win an open-company allowance on Sept. 13, then finished last of five in the Gallant Bloom.
More Mischief, trained by Chad Brown, won an opencompany first-level allowance at Saratoga in August. The 3-year-old filly finished second in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes here as a 2-year-old.
Satisfy and Pauseforthecause were second and third to Highway Star in last year’s Iroquois, and are back in this year’s field.
Fair Regis, Wadadli Princess, and Filbustin complete the lineup.