Conditions suit Broken Border

ELMONT, N.Y. – Racing will be conducted five days a week at Belmont Park for the remainder of the spring/summer meet beginning Wednesday with a nine-race card topped by a competitive New Yorkbred second-level allowance/ optional $40,000 claiming race scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener turf course.

The race, for fillies and mares, drew 11 runners for the turf and five more who would run only if the race is transferred to the dirt. Rain was forecast Monday and Tuesday, which should only help a turf course that had gotten firm and very fast over the weekend.

Trainer Jason Servis, who trains one of the fastest turf sprinters around in World of Trouble, sends out the uncoupled entry of Broken Border and High Jingo in this spot.

Broken Border, a 7-year-old daughter of Broken Vow, has recorded all four of her wins at Belmont, three of them at this seven-furlong distance. She is winless in her last seven starts dating back to the fall of 2017, but this will be her first start at seven furlongs since she won this condition here on Oct. 4, 2017. She is in for the tag on Wednesday.

In her only start this year, Broken Border finished third in this same condition going a mile over yielding turf.

“She probably needed the race,” Servis said.

Her off-the-pace running style would seem to be aided by a field that looks to have ample speed, including Servis’s other runner, High Jingo, who makes her first start in a year. When last seen, High Jingo won a first-level statebred allowance here going this distance off a seven-month layoff.

First Appeal makes her first start for Brad Cox and her first against New York-breds since April 2018, when she won this condition going six furlongs for Linda Rice. Since then, First Appeal has gone 1 for 12, with her lone win coming in an offthe-turf $16,000 claiming race at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Should conditions warrant the race be moved to the dirt, Our Super Nova and Archumybaby become the ones to beat.

KEY CONTENDERS

Broken Border, by Broken Vow Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-72

◗ Shortens up to her preferred distance for second start off a layoff and figures to get pace to chase.

Saratoga Treasure, by Treasure Beach Last 3 Beyers: 49-74-70

◗ Last race is a throwout as it came on the dirt.

◗ Is a half-brother to Veterans Beach, who has a win and, most recently, a second, in an allowance here for these same connections.

“I’m quite curious to get her on the turf and see,” said trainer David Donk, who has only run this filly once, and that was on dirt. She won on turf twice last year for Jim Ryerson.

◗ Picks up the services of John Velazquez

First Appeal, by First Defence Last 3 Beyers: 64-52-74

◗ Trainer switch to Cox and return to statebred competition could revive this once-promising mare.

Vip Nation, by Paynter Last 3 Beyers: 72-83-64

◗ Drops to competitive level after an overambitious try in the Mount Vernon.