Clearly Now Back for More in G2 True North

Clearly Now, a consistently solid sprinter over his 18-race career, set a track record here while earning the Belmont Park Sprint trophy during last year's Stars and Stripes Festival on the Independence Day holiday weekend. Now 5, he's back for more in the Grade 2, $250,000 True North on Friday.

"We've got Jose Lezcano, who rode him that day, back on him so hopefully, we can reignite a track record performance," said trainer Brian Lynch, when reached by phone in Kentucky.

The Belmont Sprint was a seven-furlong affair while the True North is a furlong shorter, but Lynch isn't terribly concerned that the son of Horse Greeley might be better when going a little longer.

"I wish the race was seven (furlongs) but it is six so we've just got to go with it," he said. "I think he's effective at six, and he got plenty out of his last race and we'll be looking for a similar performance, except I feel he'll have an even better performance this time."

Last time out, Clearly Now, who inherited his speed from his sire and his stamina from his maternal grandsire, Arch, missed by only a neck to fellow True North entrant Stallwalkin' Dude after leading until late in the Diablo Stakes here on May 10.

Clearly Now, who has finished in the money in 14 of his 18 races and earned $912,094, has yet to win in two tries in 2015. Nonetheless, Lynch has every confidence his charge will become a millionaire Friday.

"I sure do," he said. "He's a beautiful horse and an especially lovely individual."

Clearly Now, whom Lynch pronounced as "plenty fit" and had a four-furlong maintenance work in :50.20 on Saturday, is clearly one of the barn favorities.

"He's certainly right there, but I've always been a ladies man so my favorite is Coffee Clique," he said.

The multiple graded stakes winning-Coffee Clique will defend her title in the Grade 1, $700,000 Longines Just a Game on Saturday, and Lynch will also saddle Power Alert in the Grade 3, $300,000 Jaipur Invitational the same day as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard.

"She won it last year and we're really hoping she can come back and do that again," Lynch said. "It's a big weekend for us and her race is a grade one on a very big day. It's always nice to ring the bell on the big day."

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The first day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival presented by DraftKings will get off to a quick start, with the 5 ½-furlong Astoria and the seven-furlong Intercontinental on turf set to highlight the June 4 card at Belmont Park.

A field of promising 2-year-old fillies is on tap for the $250,000 Astoria led by debut winner Moment Is Right. Trained by Wesley Ward for Ten Broeck Farm, Moment Is Right broke her maiden at first asking by 8 ½ lengths on May 15 at Gulfstream Park.

Decked Out, a daughter of Street Boss trained by Keith Desormeaux, cruised to a 3 ½-length win in her debut at Santa Anita Park on May 7. The chestnut filly was purchased for $75,000 out of the Keeneland September sale, and is owned by Big Chief Thoroughbreds and Gene Voss.

Trained Todd Pletcher will send out a first-time starter in the Astoria, Tonasah, who is a daughter of Malibu Moon out of a Valid Expectations mare. The bay filly, who has been training steadily over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga, was also purchased out of the Keeneland September sale for $250,000.

Completing the field are Little Cherie, a debut winner at Keeneland trained by Mike Maker; One Minute, who broke her maiden by 7 ¼ lengths in her latest start; and La Nina, who remains a maiden after two starts.

A full field of older fillies and mares is set to contest the $150,000 Intercontinental on the Widener turf course.

Trainer Christophe Clement will send out a pair of fillies, Marbre Rose and Zindaya, who bring imposing credentials to the event.

Marbre Rose has not run since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Honey Fox on March 28 at Gulfstream. Two starts ago, the bay filly took the 7 ½-furlong South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream.

Owned by Regis Racing, Zindaya is coming off an impressive score in the six-furlong License Fee Stakes at Belmont. The daughter of More Than Ready dominated the License Fee, drawing off to win by 2 ¾ lengths and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Hard-knocking turf sprinter Shrinking Violet will go out for owner/trainer Wesley Ward. In her latest outing, the 5-year-old mare finished third in the The Very One Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard.

A Little Bit Sassy is ready to go for trainer Michael Matz and Ramona Bass. The 4-year-old filly finished first in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs before being disqualified to fourth during her sophomore campaign. In her 2015 debut, the daughter of More Than Ready finished ninth in the Dahlia Stakes at Pimlico.

The Intercontinental field is also likely to include Believe in Charlie, Dauphine Russe, Devilish Love, Kune Kune, Radiator, Distorted Beauty, Token of Love, Lemon Point, Ecstatic Miss and Carolina Shag.

Source: NYRA