Sheepshead Bay

A field of eight will go forward to contest the $150,000 Sheepshead Bay H.
(G2) at Belmont Park on Sunday. HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) comes into this 1
3/8-mile event off two impressive performances in The Very One H. (G3) and
Orchid H. (G2), hitting the wire first in both of those contests and earning
triple-digit BRIS Speed figures. The four-year-old filly is trained by the ever-dangerous Todd Pletcher, who will be teaming up with
jockey John
Velazquez for this one. Together the duo are 12-4-2-3 in the past two weeks.
Honey Ryder has four starts over the Belmont turf, hitting the board three times,
and will be the one to beat heading into Sunday.

FINERY (Lear Fan) exits a neck victory in the Beaugay H. (G3) at Aqueduct.
The five-year-old has seen the winner’s circle three times in her last four
outings and has been putting together some solid works for conditioner Bill
Turner. The bay is acclimated to the Elmont, New York, course, recording one
win and one second-place finish in her four starts at Belmont. Pablo Fragoso has the call.

DREAMS COME TRUE (Fr) (Zafonic) has fared well since making her U.S. debut
two starts back, running second in her initial outing and then coming home first
last out versus allowance company at Santa Anita for conditioner Bobby Frankel.
Jerry Bailey, who has three wins to his credit over the past seven days, will
take the irons.

Frankel also has BARANCELLA (Fr) (Acatenango) as part of an uncoupled entry.
The chestnut has finished second twice in Grade 1 events since shipping
stateside and may enjoy the added distance here as she is a confirmed closer and
has consistently come up short when unleashing her late kick.

MINGE COVE (Sandpit [Brz]) will be making her first start for new trainer
Bradley Wallace in the Sheepshead after a second-place finish last out in the
Hollywood Wildcat Breeders’ Cup H. The four-year-old miss will get the services
of Jose Santos, and is a good use for the gimmicks.

Gary Stevens returns to ride ANGARA (GB) (Alzao) as the duo paired up for two
wins in a row most recently. Two back they won an allowance going nine furlongs
over the Keeneland turf and last out they took the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch S. (G3).
Consider for the exotics.

The Thomas Albertrani-trained SAUVAGE (Fr) (Sri Pekan) was sixth in the
Beaugay after being steadied in deep stretch. A stakes winner in her native
France, Sauvage may also enjoy the added distance as she has been running in
shorter contests than she may prefer. Still, we’ll give the four-year-old a
race. KATE WINSLET (Signal Tap) has failed to hit the board in two North
American starts and may be ambitiously placed.