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ELMONT, N.Y. – No Dozing, True Timber, and Petrov are a combined 0 for 24 in graded stakes. Coal Front, a multiple graded winner, has not raced in 13 months. Delta Prince, a graded winner on turf, is trying dirt for the first time in two years. Bon Raison is seeking his fourth straight win, a streak that began in a $16,000 claiming race two months ago.

That’s the sextet assembled for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap, a seven-furlong race at Belmont Park that could be used as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 1.

True Timber, a 4-year-old son of Mineshaft, chased the Triple Crown trail most of last year, running in two-turn races that simply were too far for him. This year, he’s run in all sprints, winning three allowance races from five starts. He missed most of the summer when a fire extinguisher fell on him, cutting his leg.

He returned with a neck victory in a third-level allowance here on Sept. 16, running six furlongs in 1:08.65.

“Now it’s time to step up,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “I always thought seven-eighths might have been better than six.”

There is rain in the forecast for Saturday, and True Timber won an allowance at Aqueduct in the slop in February.

No Dozing also chased the Triple Crown trail in 2017, but wound up performing better in one-turn races. He finished second to Wild Shot in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile in the slop at Churchill and won the Concern Stakes in the mud at Laurel that summer. He began this year with a sharp allowance win going seven furlongs at Saratoga before running fifth in the Grade 1 Forego and fourth in the Grade 2 Kelso.

“Last time he broke a touch slow and we had to use him,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “Maybe the pace scenario going seven-eighths is a little better for him.”

Petrov is 0 for 13 in stakes and 0 for 9 in graded events. He did win an allowance going seven furlongs at Saratoga in August, earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

Coal Front has not run since winning the Grade 3 Gallant Bob at Parx 13 months ago. He suffered a condylar fracture to his right foreleg in that race. He has a steady work tab leading to his return.

Delta Prince, beaten a neck in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on turf in August, is now returning to dirt for the first time since a runner-up finish in a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct on Nov. 12, 2016. He was third on dirt in his debut at Belmont on Oct. 2 of that year. He is a half-brother to champion Royal Delta, a six-time Grade 1 winner on dirt and an earner of $4.8 million.

“Once he got some more experience, we always wanted to try [dirt] again,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “He breezes so well on it, and his half-sister was a champion on it.”

Jerkens is adding blinkers to Delta Prince’s equipment.

“He runs kind of spotty,” Jerkens said. “Cutting back to seven, he might need to be on the bridle all the way.”

Bon Raison was claimed for $16,000 by Gary Contessa. The 3-year-old has won a $35,000 claimer and a starter allowance since. He is 2 for 3 on an off track.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Mother Nature has wreaked havoc with the Belmont fall meet, and she may be saving her strongest punch for closing weekend.

A nor’easter is forecast for Saturday, with all-day rain and winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts around 40 mph. Five of the 10 races on the penultimate card of the meet are scheduled for turf, including the $100,000 English Channel Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $100,000 Awad for 2-year-olds, both run at one mile.

If the English Channel stays on turf, Therapist is the horse to beat. Therapist is 3 for 3 over Belmont’s turf courses and is 3 for 4 in his career at one mile. Trainer Christophe Clement felt Therapist had a difficult trip when he finished seventh of nine in the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga on Sept. 1.

Clement is concerned that the turf could be too soft on Saturday.

“He prefers good to firm turf,” Clement said. “He cannot handle soft turf.”

Trainer Tim Hills has the same concern with Sand Dancer, second to Have At It in the Grade 2 Hill Prince here on Oct. 6. The turf course was listed as “good” that day, and Hills said if the race stays on turf, he will run.

“He handled it well,” Hills said. “I think he got beat by a better horse.”

Golden Brown won the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park, beating Carrick, who came back to win the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park. Trainer Pat McBurney said Golden Brown was a bit rank early in the Hill Prince before finishing sixth.

Since Golden Brown won his maiden in the slop at Parx in February, McBurney said he likely would run if the race is moved to a wet main track.

Trainer Butch Reid would like to see the race come off the turf for Smooth B, who on Sept. 9 won a second-level allowance at Parx by 6 1/4 lengths in the slop. Reid trained two full siblings to Smooth B – Fat Kat and Pink Princess – who were multiple winners over wet tracks.

Mo Diddley, a New York-bred son of Uncle Mo, is entered to run only on the main track. Two starts back, he won a second-level New York-bred allowance by 5 3/4 lengths in the slop.

Order and Law in Awad

The connections of Order and Law, winner of the Laurel Futurity, were hopeful of running their horse in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf next Friday at Churchill Downs. But in a race that oversubscribed, Order and Law was positioned five deep on the preference list for the Juvenile Turf, making it unlikely that he’d get in.

The Awad Stakes is Plan B, and trainer Louis Linder Jr. said he plans to run Order and Law whether it remains on the turf or is transferred to the dirt.

“He’ll probably be a better grass horse, but this early in his career, he’ll run on anything,” Linder said.

Order and Law debuted in the off-the-turf Tyro Stakes at Monmouth and finished fourth, beaten four lengths. He came back to finish second in a maiden dirt race at Parx and the won the Laurel Futurity, a six-furlong turf race, by a nose.

Linder said that in the Tyro, Order and Law “had the 1 hole, the mud hit him, surprised him, and he got a little far back.”

“Once he got outside, he made that huge run, and we realized he would run on it,” Linder said.

A Thread of Blue is also likely to run regardless of surface, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. A Thread of Blue finished second to next-out stakes winner Current in a maiden turf race at Belmont on Sept. 8, then came back to win an off-the-turf maiden race by two lengths on Oct. 7.

Empire of War, another horse buried on the preference list for the Juvenile Turf, would be tough if the Awad stays on turf.

Till Then, Kentucky Wildcat, and Good Good are entered only for the main track.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – It won’t be too calm after the storm as there are three stakes scheduled for Sunday’s nine-race closing-day card at Belmont Park.

Two of those stakes, the $125,000 Zagora and the $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes, are scheduled for the turf. Whether they are run on the turf likely depends how Saturday’s forecasted nor’easter impacts the two turf courses.

The other stakes on the card is the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie for female sprinters on dirt.

The Zagora, named for the 2012 female turf champion, is scheduled for 1 1/2 miles over the Widener turf course. If it stays on turf, eight are expected to run as four were entered for the main track only.

The 3-year-old Chipolata finished third in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational here on July 7, just days after arriving from France. After getting the summer off, she was scratched out of an allowance race here that came off the turf. She also was scratched from the Valley View Stakes at Keeneland after drawing the outside post in a 14-horse field.

Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, believes the Zagora distance is ideal for Chipolata. He is just hoping the ground isn’t too soft.

“As long as she can relax and be comfortable wherever she is, it doesn’t matter,” Lorieul said. “I think she’ll run big.”

Trainer Arnaud Delacour ships up from Maryland the 4-year-old Golden Attitude, whose dam, Gold Round, is a half-sister to the multiple Breeders’ Cup winner and champion Goldikova. Golden Attitude came off a 16-month layoff to win a first-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles at Delaware Park on Sept. 5.

“I know it was only an a-other-than at Delaware, but she got boxed in a little bit and had to come late,” Delacour told the New York Racing Association publicity staff. “She did very well and galloped out strongly. I’m pretty excited about her and I think she’s a nice filly.”

If the race is moved to the main track, Indy Union and Tigalulu, first and second in a Sept. 21 allowance race, would become significant players.

Hennig set for turf or dirt

On the turf or off, trainer Mark Hennig seems well stocked for the $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf.

For the turf, Hennig entered maidens On the Town and Take Ten, both second in their only start. He has the off-the-turf maiden winner Hollywood Glory entered if the race is run on the main track.

On the Town and Take Ten ran similar races in their respective debuts. Both were in the back of the pack before coming with a sustained rally in the lane.

On the Town was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Fierce Scarlett – who would come back to finish fourth as the favorite in the Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland – while finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of next-out winner Brooke Marie.

Take Ten rallied from last to be second to Pakhet, who came back to run second in the Jessamine. Take Ten stayed on her left lead leg throughout the stretch of her race.

Hollywood Glory got beat 22 lengths at Saratoga in her debut, and came back to win a one-mile off the turf race going a one-turn mile, which would be what the Chelsey Flower would become if it’s moved to the dirt.

Trainer John Servis has Shoobiedoobydoo, the Selima Stakes runner-up, and Stormy D, a maiden winner at Gulfstream, for the Chelsey Flower.

Sower to meet elders

Sower is the only 3-year-old filly among seven female sprinters entered in the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes, slated for seven furlongs on the dirt.

Sower, a daughter of Flatter, won her first three starts, including the Jersey Girl Stakes here in June. In her last three starts, she was beaten three-quarters of a length when third in the Grade 3 Victory Ride here, fourth to Dream Tree in the Grade 2 Prioress, and third to Late Night Pow Wow in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Sept. 22. Late Night Pow Wow is 8 for 9 in her career,

“She came out of the race at Charles Town well,” trainer Linda Rice said of Sower. “This time of year we’re going to have to start running against older fillies, so we thought we’d take a look at this race.”

Sexy Reasons went 8 for 12 in Uruguay, and will now make her U.S. debut and first start for trainer Todd Pletcher in this race.

“We’re trying to find a place to start out,” Pletcher said. “There are limited options with a horse that’s won eight races already. This seemed like a logical spot even though it appears in her past performances she’s probably better going longer, but we figured we’d give this a try and get started.”

Tequilita, winner of the 2017 Charles Town Oaks, is cutting back to a distance at which she has recorded three of her four victories.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – The turf courses at Belmont Park were labeled firm on Wednesday for the first time all meet, and at least for three days – before a nor’easter is forecast to hit here Saturday – there shouldn’t be any issues with running races on the grass.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas is hoping the turf is “as firm as possible” Friday when he sends out Orecchiette in the featured second-level allowance race scheduled for six furlongs over the inner turf course. Thomas scratched Orecchiette out of the Floral Park Stakes here Oct. 13 due to soft turf.

Thomas said the course “didn’t dry out enough for us to think that was going to be to her benefit. The last couple of weeks, it’s been so deep and has compromised speed. We didn’t want to take that risk.”

Orecchiette has won her last three starts over Belmont’s turf, including a 2 1/4-length first-level allowance win over good ground on Sept. 8, the second day of the meet.

Orecchiette will break from the outside post under Javier Castellano in what figures to be a nine-horse field after four horses entered to run on the main track will scratch.

The 7-year-old mare Rumble Doll was claimed from Robert Falcone Jr. for $62,500 by Danny Gargan on Aug. 20 at Saratoga. But Robert Falcone Sr., the owner of Rumble Doll, bought the filly back as he intends to breed her next year. Before then, the Falcones hope to run her a time or two, beginning in this spot.

Rumble Doll lacked running room in the stretch of her last start when second to Miss Gossip.

“When you have a dead closer going 5 1/2 [furlongs] and you make up all that ground and at the sixteenth pole you have to stand up on her, I definitely think she should have won,” Falcone Jr. said.

Sister Sophia, second in this condition last out, and Quality Time, a first-level allowance winner at Presque Isle Downs last out, also are contenders in this spot.

Go Astray, Tanya’s Gem, Closer Still, Bloody Point, and Annie Rocks complete the field for turf.

KEY CONTENDERS

Orecchiette, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-81
◗ Has won three of her last four, with the lone loss coming in a stakes over yielding turf at Suffolk Downs. She would prefer firm ground and could be the primary speed under Castellano.

Rumble Doll, by Street Boss
Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-73

◗ Hard-trying mare was unlucky last time, unable to find room in the stretch at Saratoga. Bought back by connections who lost her for $62,500, she likely has one or two more starts before being bred next year.

Sister Sophia, by Tale of the Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-76

◗ Beaten favorite when second in this condition here over yielding ground. Late-runner figures to come flying late.

Quality Time, by Exceed and Excel
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-84

◗ Returns to turf and to Belmont Park after winning an allowance at Presque Ise Downs last out. Finished one length behind Sister Sophia when third in this same condition here Sept. 14.

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ELMONT, N.Y.– Kharafa, the $1.2 million-earning New York-bred, has been retired and will join his old friends Lubash and King Kreesa at Old Friends, a retirement farm in Lexington, Ky., trainer Tim Hills said.

Kharafa, 9, finished sixth in the Mohawk Stakes last weekend on Empire Showcase Day in his 52nd career start. He had a record of 13 wins, 13 seconds and 9 thirds and earned $1,238,622.

Kharafa won eight stakes, including three runnings of the Cole, one Mohawk, one Kingston, and one West Point, the four traditional turf stakes for New York-breds run on the New York Racing Association circuit.

For the better part of five years, Kharafa, Lubash, and King Kreesa took turns beating each other in those races, oftentimes the trio filling out the top three finishing positions.

“He’s been with me since he was a 2-year-old,” said Hills, who trained Kharafa for owners Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch.

“That’s almost like an eternity in horse racing. It’s going to be tough not having him around, especially in the summer when the New York-bred series comes around.”

Hills said Kharafa left Belmont Park on Thursday and will spend a week or 10 days on a Lexington farm before joining King Kreesa and Lubash at Old Friends. That facility is having a party the weekend of the Breeders’ Cup and is not currently accepting new horses until Nov. 4, Hills said.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher pre-entered eight horses in the Breeders’ Cup, with Current among those with the best chances of winning a race.

Current worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01.01 over the Belmont Park main track Thursday in preparation for his start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 2. Jockey John Velazquez was aboard for the move in which he went his first three furlongs in 36.84 seconds and his final quarter in 24.17. Current galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.90, and seven furlongs in 1:26.85.

“I thought he worked very well,” Pletcher said. “He did it within himself. He had a little bit of a tailwind that carried him along, but I like the way he did it.”

Current, a son of Curlin, is 2 for 3, including a nose victory in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in which he rallied from 10th position and was very wide in the stretch. He won his maiden at Belmont stalking a slow pace.

“I think he’s getting a little more professional all the time,” Pletcher said. “Tactics will come down to the post-position draw. I think he’s handy enough to use him a little bit to get a spot if you need to. Ideally, we’d like him to settle and make a run.”

Though Jose Ortiz rode Current in the Bourbon, Velazquez, aboard for Current’s first two races, will be back aboard in the Breeders’ Cup.

Pletcher also pre-entered Opry, Bulletin, and Empire of War in the Juvenile Turf. Bulletin also is pre-entered in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which is the race in which he will run. On Thursday, Bulletin worked a half-mile in 48.61 at Palm Beach Downs. Empire of War is seven deep on the preference list for the Juvenile Turf and was entered to run in Saturday’s Awad Stakes at Belmont.

Opry, Pletcher’s other Juvenile Turf entrant, was expected to work Friday at Belmont along with Smart Choice (Filly and Mare Turf). Hi Happy (Turf) and Blind Ambition (Turf Sprint, three deep on preference list) also are expected to work Friday. Pakhet (Juvenile Fillies Turf) was expected to work Friday at Keeneland.

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Coal Front, a multiple graded stakes-winning 3-year-old of 2017, will make his first start in 13 months in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.

Coal Front, a son of Stay Thirsty, is 4 for 5, with his lone loss being a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga in August 2017. On Sept. 23, 2017, Coal Front won the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx. He came out of that race with a condylar fracture to his right foreleg.

Todd Pletcher, who trains Coal Front for Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners, was planning to run Coal Front in an allowance race for his return. But such a race did not fill either at Belmont or Keeneland, so this was his best option.

“He’s given us every indication in his training that he’s maintained his form,” Pletcher said. “Still, off a 13-month layoff, graded stakes, carrying top weight is a lot to overcome. He’s trained well and looks great.”

Coal Front, the 122-pound highweight, drew post 4 and will be conceding three to 10 pounds to five rivals in the Bold Ruler.

Delta Prince, who has made his last eight starts on turf, will return to dirt for the first time since he finished third in his career debut at Belmont two years ago.

Petrov, who finished third behind Coal Front in the 2017 Gallant Bob, is trying to win his first stakes race in his 14th try and 20th race overall.

Completing the field are True Timber, a winner of two straight allowance races; Bon Raison, a winner of three straight in the claiming ranks; and No Dozing.

There are two other stakes Saturday, both in jeopardy of being moved from turf to the main track due to rain in the forecast.

The $100,000 English Channel, for 3-year-olds at a mile, drew a field of 10 led by Therapist, Rose’s Vision, and Golden Brown. The $100,000 Awad Stakes, for 2-year-olds at a mile, drew six runners for turf, including Empire of War, who was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but is unlikely to draw into that race, and A Threat of Blue, who was second to subsequent stakes winner Current in a maiden turf race and then won his next start on dirt.

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