Sainthood (Mshawish), runner-up in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks over the Turfway synthetic Mar. 27 and 11th-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby, makes his grass debut in Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. at Belmont Park.
Sainthood breezed twice over the Belmont lawn since, including a four-furlong move around the dogs in :49 (4/12) May 22. His dam Lemon Hero (Lemon Drop Kid) was stakes-placed over the Hollywood Park lawn.
“He and Mshawish have similar physiques, and like Mshawish, this one seems pretty versatile,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We've had turf in the back of our minds with this one all along. With him being out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare and being by Mshawish, his breeding suggested that. I thought his two works on the turf here were really good.”
Hard Love (Kitten's Joy) is the 9-5 favorite on the morning-line after kicking off his sophomore season with a popular win in Aqueduct's Woodhaven S. Apr. 17.
Last term's GII Pilgrim S. second Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was second behind Safe Conduct (Bodemeister) in his first start this term in a Belmont optional claimer May 2.
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