Baletti, Dynaslew Win Turf Stakes at Belmont

Baletti rebounded from a disappointing effort in New Orleans to take the $100,000 Fort Marcy (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO), while Dynaslew set all of the fractions to score in the $100,000 Beaugay (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) for fillies and mares in front of a crowd of 9,405 on Kentucky Derby day at Belmont Park May 1.

Owned by Castletop Stable, Baletti entered the Mervin Muniz, Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) at Fair Grounds having won four of his last six starts, but beat just two home to finish eighth. Looking to get back to form in the Fort Marcy, the 6-year-old gelded son of Gulch received a well-timed ride from Cornelio Velasquez to collar Dynamoor in the final sixteenth and earn a half-length victory.

“I had a very good trip,” said Velasquez. “I followed Coa’s horse (Dynamoor) -- he’s a tough horse, a very good horse -- and my horse finished up well.”

It was an additional two lengths back to third-place finisher Brother Nick, who was well clear of Storm Play and Sal the Barber. Grand Couturier, Operation Red Dawn, and Interpatation -- all making their first starts since the autumn -- finished sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. Florentino and main track only entrant Ea were scratched.

Baletti, who covered the 1 1/16 miles over the firm Widener Turf Course in 1:40.36, will be kept in races at distances between 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 miles, according to his trainer, Angel Penna Jr.

“This horse has constantly been improving,” said Penna. “His race in New Orleans was a little bit disappointing, but he was closer to the pace than he needed to be, and it’s difficult to win that close to the pace at the Fair Grounds. We threw the race out, and he came out of it great.”

Off as the 5-2 favorite, Baletti returned $7.40 for a $2 win wager and improved his record to 6-2-2-6 from 21 starts. He was bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and has now earned $296,764 in his career.

Earlier in the day, Dynaslew set leisurely fractions of :25.87 and :50.98 before she kicked clear of her rivals to run away to a 3 1/4-length success under Coa in the Beaugay. Making her second start for trainer Seth Benzel, the Live Oak homebred entered this spot off a victory in a Gulfstream Park optional claimer on April 2.

“I couldn’t have drawn the race up any better,” said Benzel. “Eibar was a lot more patient than I was. It was a great ride. She came to us in December. She’s the type of filly where less is more; she keeps herself very fit in between races, and all we have to do is keep her happy.”

Dynaslew, a 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Dynaformer, needed 1:42.39 to negotiate the 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course. She returned $8.90 for a $2 win bet. Scolara ran second and Chestoria was third.