Will A Lot Break Through in Paradise Creek?
Twice
placed in graded stakes earlier this year, Liberty Road Stables' A Lot
will attempt to add black type to his resume this Saturday in the second
running of the $100,000 Paradise Creek for 3-year-olds on the Widener
turf course at Belmont Park.
The Bill Mott trainee broke his
maiden on Belmont's Widener course last September and joined the stakes
ranks with a fourth-place finish in the Awad before heading south for
the winter. At Gulfstream Park, A Lot just missed in the Grade 3 Dania
Beach, finishing second by a half-length to Night Prowler, followed by a
3 ¾-length allowance victory on February 22.
Most recently,
the Tapit colt proved to be a game contender on the grass with a toughly
beaten runner-up effort in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile American Turf on
May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has
ridden A Lot in his last three starts, retains the call. The pair will
break from the outside post 8 as the 6-5 program choice.
A Lot is slated to face five rivals at seven furlongs on the grass, including promising turf specialist Croninthebarbarian.
Previously in the barn of Garry Simms, Ol' Memorial Stables'
Croninthebarbarian will be making his first start for trainer Chad
Brown. The son of Stroll campaigned in Florida earlier this year with
third-place finishes in the Grade 3 Dania Beach and Kitten's Joy Stakes
before finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Palm Beach on March 7 at
Gulfstream.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Croninnthebarbarian, 2-1 on the morning line. The pair will leave from post position 4.
Bridget's Big Luvy, most recently eighth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby
on April 11, will be making his grass debut without the blinkers he has
worn in his last two starts for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. Bridget's
Big Luvy will have a new rider in Rajiv Maragh and, at 4-1 on the
morning line, he is assigned to post position 7.
First-time gelding Enjoy the Show, Tampa Bay import Alex the Terror and maiden winner St. Louie complete the field.
Nonna's Boy and Whateveryouwant are entered for the main track only.
Source: NYRA