A pair of 3-year-olds who registered impressive stakes wins in Florida sprint races this year will meet for the first time when Clearly Now and Honorable Dillon start in the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Bay Shore will be contested at seven furlongs, the same distance as the biggest wins to date for Clearly Now, who enters off a clear victory in the Swale Stakes (gr. III) March 2 at Gulfstream Park, and Honorable Dillon, who captured the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 2 over the same strip.
The connections of both horses briefly flirted with stretching their horses out but, at least for now, will stick with sprinting. Up Hill Stable's Clearly Now finished off the board in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Stakes Jan. 26 before the Horse Greeley colt's 1 3/4-length victory in the Swale. After Joseph Bucci's Honorable Dillon won the Hutcheson by a half-length, the son of Tapit finished off the board in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 9.
Nine 3-year-olds are expected to start in the Bay Shore. As a spring sprint, the Bay Shore does not carry any Road to the Kentucky Derby points. Churchill Downs uses the points to determine starters for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Maleeh won the Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes at Aqueduct from the inside post on the inner track by nearly three lengths March 9. The son of Indian Charlie draws the 2 hole for his return for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Shadwell Stable.
Clawback, third in the same six-furlong event for trainer Rick Violette Jr., is on the rail this time. Also coming out of the Capossela is fourth-place finisher Silver Morgan.
The Truth and K G, a front-running allowance/optional claiming race winner as the favorite March 7, drew the far outside as he goes for his first stakes victory for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
$250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III, race 9, approximate post time 5:19 p.m.), 3YO, 7f
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Clawback (FL), I. Ortiz, 120, R. Violette Jr.
2. Maleeh (VA), E. Castro, 120, K. McLaughlin
3. Retreive (FL), J. Alvarado, 116, C. Englehart
4. Salutos Amigos (KY), J. Velazquez, 116, E. Guillot
5. Declan's Warrior (KY), J. Lezcano, 116, N. Zito
6. Honorable Dillon (KY), J. Rosario, 123, E. Kenneally
7. Silver Morgan (KY), A. Arroyo, 116, G. Preciado
8. Clearly Now (KY), J. Castellano, 123, B. Lynch
9. The Truth and K G (KY), C. Velasquez, 120, R. Rodriguez