Rocket Heat, Ready for Rye Head Jaipur Cast

A field of 14 older turf sprinters will contest the $300,000 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 11 on the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) undercard.

Ready for Rye is the most consistent horse in the line-up for the six-furlong dash. He got very good last summer when he won the Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, then came back to take the off-the-turf Allied Forces at Belmont Park in the mud. After an off-the-board effort in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT), he has returned this season to run third in the Gulfstream Park Sprint (gr. IIIT), and then second in the Commonwealth Stakes (gr. III) on dirt and the Diablo, also on dirt. He is versatile with his running style.

SHULMAN: Rocket Heat Fires to Turf Sprint Victory

Rocket Heat took the Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs last month and returned to run third behind Ben’s Cat in the May 20 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico Race Course. He runs his race each time out and should be forwardly placed here.

Take Cover is an interesting horse. He took seven races to win his maiden, but has been unbeatable since, including a victory in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup over Ben’s Cat. He’s won three in a row, but is being wheeled back just one week after his Pennsylvania score.

NOVAK: Take Cover Takes Over PA Governor's Cup

Guns Loaded landed fifth behind Rocket Heat in the Turf Sprint last out, but was moving well at the finish. He took the San Simeon (gr. IIIT) in his previous race and is another who nearly always puts his run in. He should be closer to the tempo here and might surprise.

Mosler has gone more than a year without winning. He was sixth in last year’s Jaipur and has his work cut out for him here.

Hothersal came late to miss by a neck in the Miami Mile (gr. IIIT) last out at a mile. He has been tried at two turns and sprinting and is useful either way, but there are no stakes victories on his ledger. Green Gratto has speed to burn but has failed to carry it all the way in five starts this season. He took the Gravesend late last year after scoring in the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III). This will be just his third turf try in 43 starts.

Green Mask has gone two years without winning, although he was less than a length off Mongolian Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint when third. He was beaten a nose by A Lot in the Elusive Quality in April and does most of his running from off the pace. A Lot has shown a vigorous late kick, including at Belmont a year ago when winning the Paradise Creek by 5 ¾ lengths. He is another dangerous contender in this wide-open free-for-all.

Commute came home well over yielding ground to win an optional claimer at Belmont last month after closing like a freight train to finish third in the Shakertown Stakes (gr. IIT). That move could serve him in good stead here. Royal Squeeze will be part of the pace scenario but looks to be up against it in this company.

Summation Time won an allowance 14 months ago and has been fourth this season in both the Turf Sprint at Churchill and the Shakertown. He has a closing kick if not a winning one. Disco Partner won an allowance event last month but his tries in stakes haven’t been good enough. Pure Sensation won the Turf Monster Handicap (gr. IIIT) last fall, defeating eventual Breeders’ Cup winner Mongolian Saturday, but only managed an eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He ran unplaced in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in February and has been on the sidelines since.