It’s showtime tomorrow for Ein Gedi if Mother Nature cooperates and the turf race, which will launch her eagerly anticipated career, remains on the grass. She arrived earlier this week to Belmont Park from her Saratoga home base and is seen here this morning in the attached video.
We will let the 2-year-old filly’s partners know Thursday morning as early as possible what the status is for Ein Gedi’s race at Belmont at the Big A. Trainer Chad Brown has told our team the filly will scratch if the race is run on the dirt.
We are thrilled that this daughter of European powerhouse sire Oasis Dream is in the entries. Her journey to reach the races for trainer Chad Brown began last year when our bloodstock team identified the Irish-bred as a desirable prospect at the Tattersalls auction house in England.
Since arriving in Brown’s barn in the spring, the filly who has the sweetest disposition and is very willing in her training, has had a steady stream of works for her first assignment. There were some hiccups along the way in her training, but nothing major and Brown said he’s really looking forward to launching her career given the high level excitement among her partners. Ein Gedi is the first horse trained by Brown for MyRacehorse to reach the races.
Ein Gedi, who drew post 7, is among a full field of 10, plus four also-eligibles, entered in the six-furlong race scheduled for the outer turf course. The filly, who is the 3-1 morning-line favorite, is among 6 first-time starters in the main body of what looks to be a competitive field. Post time for Race 1 is 2:05 p.m. ET.
Over the last five years, Brown has won at a rate of 16% with his 2-year-old filly first-time starters who are sprinting on the grass. The trainer has had terrific success with Manny Franco, who is named to ride Ein Gedi. The pair have won at a rate 26% over the last five years and Franco was aboard Brown’s most recent stakes winner, Faith in Humanity, who captured the Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday.
About the Competition (in post position order):
Passionate Dream (6-1) finished fifth on debut from her rail post on the dirt for trainer Todd Pletcher and didn’t show any speed that day at Monmouth. Stretches out here with Irad Ortiz Jr. getting the mount for the first time. Gets an unlucky draw once again. Sire Uncle Mo is 15% with his first-time turfers.
Tap It Up (30-1) is a daughter of first-crop sire, Tapwrit, who has won with 3 of his 5 progeny to start on the turf. Her turf works in Saratoga have mostly been very average for a barn which is winning at just 6% on the year.
Galileo’s Jewel (6-1) is bred for the turf being a daughter of Kingman out of a Galileo mare. Trainer Tony Dutrow has solid numbers with both first-time starters and his horses running for the initial time on the turf, winning at 20% and 22%, respectively. This filly has some good works and is one to watch.
Will Be Famous (8-1) has race experience on her side with two starts under her belt. She had a bit of trouble leaving the gate in both starts in those dirt sprints. If she takes to the turf — a couple of her family members are winners on the grass — she could be rolling late for a piece of it.
Caly Bali (4-1) is another in here with an attractive turf pedigree. Trained by Brad Cox, the dirts works for the daughter of Bal a Bali have been most impressive. With the speed she’s showing in her breezes, expect her to be prominent early.
Personal Pursuit (8-1) transitions to turf after an okay debut sprinting on dirt. She showed some stalking speed that day as the favorite before tiring. She’s fresh as she hasn’t run since July 1 and gets the services of Luis Saez for the first time which is a plus. Connections paid $500k for Personal Pursuit as a yearling so expectations are high for the daughter of Tapit.
Fourway Stop (9-2) makes her fourth career start and cuts back in distance here after finishing 6th in a 1 1/16th-mile turf race in Saratoga. That race produced multiple next-out winners. Her two prior starts sprinting on the turf yielded better finishes and she’s a logical contender here.
Nightsaber (30-1) brings an extremely swift half-mile work, the fastest of 84 on 9/16 at Belmont Park, to her first race. Apprentice Jose Gomez, who has been doing well this year at East Coast and Mid-Atlantic tracks, has the mount. There is some turf pedigree here with her dam Tesora being a stakes winner on the grass while sprinting. Nightsaber’s trainer, A. Land Trites, is winless this year with 17 starters and this might account for the high ML odds.
Quarrel (12-1) has some decent works on the dirt for her debut. Dam was a turfer and lone sibling won over the surface. Trainer Robert Ribaudo operates a small stable but is known for popping with some big prices, but likely this daughter of Speightstown will need a race under her belt, especially with this outside post.
Also-Eligibles:
Lexi’s Spirit (7-2) ran nicely on debut in a turf race while traveling wide and also lugging in. If she draws in, the filly should benefit from that race where she finished fourth.
Lady Caraggio (10-1) showed speed before tiring on debut to finish 10th in a turf race for Hall of Fame Bill Mott who wins at 16% with maidens making their second start.
Lemon Bomb (30-1) has been working averagely on the dirt in Saratoga for her debut.
Every Time (10-1) showed speed on turf in debut going 1 1/16th miles before fading in the final eighth.
