By Steve Sherack
ELMONT, NY – After canceling Thursday's card at Belmont Park amid poor air quality issues, there is optimism that live racing will return with Friday's 11-race program featuring a trio of Grade I events.
Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), last seen pulling off a dramatic 10-1 upset with first-time blinkers in the GI Kentucky Oaks, will take on seven rivals in the GI Acorn S.
“She's doing great and hasn't missed a beat since she came out of the Oaks,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “This was the obvious next step for her. It's full steam ahead for tomorrow.”
The Godolphin homebred turns back slightly in distance to a one-turn 1 1/16 miles, while 9-5 morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings) makes her first attempt beyond seven furlongs. The latter suffered her first career defeat as the heavy favorite by a painful head in the GII Eight Belles S. at Churchill Downs May 5.
Two-time Grade I winner and two-time Breeders' Cup third-place finisher War Like Goddess (English Channel) headlines an eight-horse field in the 1 1/4-mile grassy GI New York S. The George Krikorian colorbearer faces last year's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. one-two McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); streaking GIII Modesty S. winner Didia (Arg) (Orpen); and last term's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. winner Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}).
The five-horse field for the GI Just a Game S. features a showdown between front-running three-time Grade I winner and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up 'TDN Rising Star' In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and talented New York-bred Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}). Trained by Chad Brown, In Italian was third in this race last year. Brown has won a remarkable five out of the last six renewals of the Just a Game. Last term's GI Del Mar Oaks heroine and G1 Coronation S. runner-up Spendarella was second as the favorite in her GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. comebacker May 6.
With a 12:50 p.m. first post, Belmont's Friday card also includes two additional graded races on the turf, the GII Belmont Gold Cup going two miles and the GIII Intercontinental S. at six furlongs.
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