Rain could impact pair of turf stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – After what has been a relatively dry fall – one in which only 10 turf races have had to be transferred to the dirt – more than an inch of rain is forecast for Sunday, likely impacting the two turf stakes scheduled for closing day at Belmont Park.

A field of 12 fillies and mares is entered to run 1 1/2 miles in the $125,000 Zagora Stakes, while an equally large field of 2-year-old fillies is scheduled to run one mile in the $100,000 Chelsey Flower. Both races are scheduled for the Widener Turf course. Each race has one main track-only entrant.

Both stakes – as well as the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie for fillies and mares on dirt – are in the Empire 6 wager, the pool for which must be distributed in its entirety on closing day. A pool of close to $3 million is likely.

Provided the Zagora stays on the turf, Lemon Zip, Homeland Security, and Fools Good look to be the major players in the race.

Since trainer Niall Saville stretched her out in distance, Lemon Zip has four wins and two seconds from six starts. One of her seconds was to Homeland Security in the Unbridled Essence at Monmouth. Lemon Zip had 10 weeks from her previous start owing to having been scratched at the gate for the Robert G. Dick Memorial on July 6 at Delaware Park. Due to a quarantine situation at Delaware Park, Lemon Zip had to spend a few weeks at a farm and was out of her regular training routine.

Since the Unbridled Essence, Lemon Zip won a starter handicap against males at Laurel then was beaten a head in the Japan Turf Cup, also versus males at Laurel.

“She keeps showing up,” Saville said. “I would love to be coming there with better ground to run on. I’m not too keen on the forecast, but very happy with her and I think we look very good in the race.”

Homeland Security won this race last year over soft turf when in the barn of Chad Brown. Sold at auction, Homeland Security is 1 for 4 with Christophe Clement including a 1 3/4-length victory in the Unbridled Essence at Monmouth Park.

“Homeland Security stays and she goes on any ground,” Clement said.

Clement also has entered Wegetsdamunnys and Sky Full of Stars in the Zagora. Clement scratched Wegetsdamunnys out of the Ticonderoga Stakes against New York-breds last week to try her at 1 1/2 miles in this spot.

“Maybe I’m slightly pushing it, the distance and softer ground the same day, but I’ve always wanted to try” the distance, Clement said.

Fools Gold, trained by Brown, won the Grade 3 Waya Stakes at Saratoga at 1 1/2 miles before running fifth in the Grade 2 Glens Falls last out.

Not In Jeopardy, Pamina, Lady Montdore, War Cabinet, Mercilla, Beau Belle, and Violet Blue complete the field on turf. Another Broad, winner of the Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct in the mud in March, is entered as a main track only.

Princesa Caroline has Plan B

Brown would like to run

Princesa Caroline in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. As of Friday, she still needed one defection to draw in as both Alms and Precious Moments were removed from Breeders’ Cup consideration.

As a back-up, Princesa Caroline is entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Chelsey Flower, where she would likely go favored if she stays in the race.

Princesa Caroline, a halfsister to champion Lady Eli, won her debut by 3 1/2 lengths over firm ground on Sept. 28.

“Princesa Caroline probably doesn’t possess the turn of foot Lady Eli had, however I liked her debut where she put herself into the race and finished it off,” Brown said.

Brown has won three of the last four runnings of the Chelsey Flower, including last year, when the race came off the turf, with Seek and Destroy.

Micheline won the Sorority going a mile on turf at Monmouth before finishing ninth of 11 in the Grade 1 Alcibiades on dirt. Trainer Michael Stidham said Micheline would run on soft turf, but not if the race is moved to the dirt.

English Breeze was third in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga and then was beaten 1 1/2 lengths with a wide trip in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo here on Sept. 29. She may appreciate turning back to a mile.

Sparkling Sky was fourth in the Miss Grillo after breaking poorly for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Enola Gay, trained by Shug McGaughey, won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race Sept. 12 at Kentucky Downs from which the second- and third-place finishers came back to win.

Wicked Title is entered to run on the dirt.