Majestic Dunhill stays on turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – Since they already have Vekoma to run in some of the elite one-turn races on dirt, owner Randy Hill and trainer George Weaver have the luxury of switching Majestic Dunhill back to the turf.

Sunday, one day after Vekoma was to start as a contender in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on dirt, Majestic Dunhill will run as a major player in a multi-conditioned allowance turf race at Belmont Park. The seven-furlong race serves as the feature on Belmont’s 10-race card after the $100,000 Kingston for New York-bred males was not carded due to lack of entries.

Majestic Dunhill was actually entered in the Grade 1 Carter on June 6 as a backup in case something happened to Vekoma. Nothing untoward happened to Vekoma, and all he did was romp to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Carter.

Majestic Dunhill was re-routed to the First Defence on turf on June 7, and ran a terrific race, finishing second, beaten a head by Therapist. There was a stewards’ inquiry and jockey’s objection against Therapist and Irad Ortiz Jr. for coming over on Majestic Dunhill in deep stretch, but the stewards made no change in the order of finish.

“Irad herded us the whole way down the lane,” Weaver said. “He was not trying to maintain a straight course, he was trying his best to herd us and intimidate us, and he won the race by doing that.”

Still, Weaver said he was “pretty happy” with Majestic Dunhill’s performance, and Sunday’s race is a logical spot.

“I have no problem running him on turf or dirt,” Weaver said. “He’s a hard horse to spot because he’s out of conditions.

Luckily, he has the versatility. Most horses prefer one or the other.”

Reylu Gutierrez, aboard Majestic Dunhill in the First Defence, is back aboard Sunday.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out the uncoupled entry of Delaware and Front Run the Fed.

Delaware, a Group 3 winner in France in 2019, finished eighth in the First Defence, his first start in nine months and first for Brown. Delaware is getting blinkers and Lasix, both for the first time, for this start.

“He got lost in the back there,” Brown said. “He trained so much sharper than that. We put the hood on him and he seems a little more focused. Hopefully, he puts himself in the race a little better.”

The last time Front Run the Fed ran seven furlongs on turf at Belmont, he won a first-level allowance race by 13 1/4 lengths. He also finished second to Seismic Wave in the English Channel Stakes last October at Belmont. In his lone start this year, Front Run the Fed finished fourth as the 6-5 favorite in an allowance race at Churchill.

“He didn’t like the track there, he never looked comfortable,” Brown said. “We know how he likes Belmont.”

Jose Lezcano, aboard for two of Front Run the Fed’s wins, is back aboard Sunday.

Trainer Bill Mott has a solid uncoupled entry in Chewing Gum, who won a second-level allowance here June 12, and Penalty, who threw in a clunker June 18 at Churchill.

Telekinesis and Vici should supply the speed in the race. Isotherm, May Ty One On, and Pulsate complete the field.