Dwyer Field Taking Shape
On Saturday, May 8, 3-year-olds take center stage at Belmont Park with the 93rd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer.
According to Andrew Byrnes, stakes coordinator for The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), likely for the 1 1/8th mile race are Codoy, making his first start on conventional dirt; Drosselmeyer, most recently third to Mission Impazible in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby; First Dude, third to Stately Victor in the Grade 1 Blue Grass; the Nick Zito-trained Fly Down; Remand, third in the Grade 3 Bay Shore; Soaring Empire, a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, and recent maiden winner Zio Tony.
Privilaged, third in the Grade 2 Swale, and Turf Melody, fourth in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby, are questionable.
With just two races under his girth, the Mike Hushion-trained Zio Tony may be the most inexperienced horse heading to the Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer, but there’s no question about his status for the race.
“My Uncle Tony is coming in from Italy for Mother’s Day, so I told Mike, “That seals it”, said owner Mike Repole, who named the son of 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow after his uncle. “He’s lightly raced, but we looked at the nominees, and his numbers fit. I also love the one-turn mile and an eighth for him, especially since ran greenly the last time.”
In his second start, Zio Tony drew off to a 4 ½-length victory over Avenging Spirit in a seven-furlong maiden race on April 16, joining the “New York Watch” series, which shines the spotlight on promising colts and fillies that have recently cleared the maiden and allowance ranks on the NYRA circuit.
In the Dwyer, Zio Tony will get a new jockey in Javier Castellano, replacing Gabriel Saez, and may get a change of equipment as well, said Repole.
“Javier will work him in blinkers either Tuesday or Wednesday, and we’ll see,” Repole said.