A full field of a dozen fillies and mares will contest the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (G3T) going 1 1/16 miles over the Belmont Park Widener Turf course Oct. 28.
Decked Out drew widest in the group, tricky because the race starts at the end of the clubhouse turn. The 4-year-old took the American Oaks (G1T) three back but since then has rolled a pair of fifth-place finishes on the West Coast. She is going to need some pace to settle behind and make her late run, and this event may be shorter than her optimal distance.
Phillips Racing Partnership's Time and Motion is another looking to regain her best form. She was at her best last year when she took the Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) in successive starts, but is winless in five starts since, all in graded company. She is a stalker who needs to rediscover her late kick.
Elysea's World drew the rail and was second in the Canadian Stakes (G2T) last out. She has been competitive in graded stakes but has yet to get over the top to the winner’s circle in one. Chad Brown stablemate Off Limits popped up to win the Noble Damsel (G3T) at a mile last out for owner Martin Schwartz and looks to be on the improve. She seems a logical player from the turf master Brown.
My Impression scored in the One Dreamer Stakes last out for Stuart Janney III and can either set the early tempo or stalk. She’s another with a big chance to grab the top prize. Juno has come up winless in nine U.S. starts after winning multiple grade 1 evens in her native Brazil. She had early speed but has yet to show the ability to carry it this distance against this sort of competition.
Thundering Sky took the De La Rose Stakes last out and also owns a victory in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont a year ago. She needs a breakthrough against graded company but has the speed to put herself in the mix. Puca was a last-out winner out of town and is another with early foot. Penjade has won her last three in allowance and allowance optional claiming company and will be tested for class here. Westit is a maiden winner in France who makes her first U.S. start.
Belmont Park, Saturday, October 28, 2017, Race 7Entries: Athenia S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Elysea's World (IRE) Javier Castellano 116 Chad C. Brown 5/1 2 2Queen Caroline (VA) Joe Bravo 120 Michael R. Matz 20/1 3 3My Impression (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Claude R. McGaughey III 8/1 4 4Juno (BRZ) Junior Alvarado 118 Neil D. Drysdale 10/1 5 5Time and Motion (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 James J. Toner 6/1 6 6Thundering Sky (KY) Rajiv Maragh 120 George Weaver 15/1 7 7Off Limits (IRE) Joel Rosario 123 Chad C. Brown 2/1 8 8Westit (GB) Manuel Franco 113 Carlos Laffon-Parias 15/1 9 9Puca (KY) Jose Lezcano 120 William I. Mott 15/1 10 10Penjade (FR) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 116 Chad C. Brown 12/1 11 11Firsthand Report (PA) Luis Saez 120 Todd A. Pletcher 20/1 12 12Decked Out (KY) Nik Juarez 120 J. Keith Desormeaux 8/1 13 13Conquest Tizfire (KY) Joe Bravo 116 James L. Lawrence, II 30/1
