Dutrow optimistic about High Opinion

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Tony Dutrow has a strong opinion on how High Opinion is going to run in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park.

“She’s gonna run big,” Dutrow said.

High Opinion ran big in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga on Aug. 28, coming up a nose short to Viadera in that 1 1/16-mile race. Prior to that, High Opinion won an allowance going one mile, the distance of the Noble Damsel.

In discussing the Ballston Spa, Dutrow said: “We were very, very happy with the performance our filly gave us that day. She’s every bit the same horse coming to this race that we brought to the Ballston Spa.”

High Opinion, who will break from post 3 under Luis Saez, is a closer who would benefit from a strong pace. With Tamahere and Shifty She in this field there should be a legitimate pace.

Tamahere is one of two horses entered in this race by trainer Chad Brown, who has won the last five runnings of the Noble Damsel. Tamahere set the pace in the Ballston Spa but was passed late, finishing fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Viadera and High Opinion.

Tamahere came back with a dominant 7 1/4-length victory in the Violet Stakes at Monmouth, going to the front right away and galloping to victory.

While Brown has liked the way Tamahere has performed while on the lead, “she’s won before from off the pace,” he said.

“If somebody really wanted to go we’d have no problem rating her, but we won’t get into a fight with her either,” he said.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Tamahere from the outside post.

Brown also sends out Love and Thunder, who had finished second four straight times before she won a first-level allowance race by 4 3/4 lengths under Jose Ortiz here on Oct. 1 going seven furlongs.

“I just think she got a much better trip,” Brown said. “She got some bad trips and it cost her. Jose gave her a great trip, so we can start to move forward now.”

Jose Ortiz rides Love and Thunder from post 6.

Trainer Shug McGaughey sends out the uncoupled pair of In a Hurry and Flower Point, both coming off an allowance win here earlier in the meet.

In a Hurry has seemed to improve with blinkers while Flower Point benefited from a brief summer freshening and a return to Belmont Park, where she has won her last two starts.

“I think she really likes the big turns here,” McGaughey said of Flower Point. “She wants firm ground.”

In a Hurry (Javier Castellano) and Flower Point (Jose Lezcano) break from post 1 and 2, respectively.

Platinum Paynter, Marlborough Road, and Risky Mischief complete the field on turf. Truth Hurts was entered to run only if the race is moved to the main track.

The Nobel Damsel goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that includes the Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince for 3-year-olds on turf.