Economic Model, Lewis Bay head Belmont Races

A pair of grade III handicaps at Belmont Park will entertain New York patrons the weekend before Breeders’ Cup, with fillies and mares 3 and older running 1 1/16 miles in the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm and the Bold Ruler offering males 3 and older a shot at $200,000 in purse money in the seven-furlong contest Oct. 29.

The Bold Ruler features Economic Model, who has run four crackerjack races in a row including a win in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont and a pair of seconds in the Dwyer (gr. III) and King’s Bishop (gr. I), in which he was beaten by the impressive Drefong at the seven-panel distance. Economic Model, a 3-year-old son of Flatter  , is a mid-pack runner who figures to get a tempo to run into with a full field entered here as he faces older horses for the first time.

Stallwalkin' Dude possesses sharp form as well. He was second in the Vosburgh (gr. I), third in the Forego (gr. I) behind top sprinter A. P. Indian, and won the Tale of the Cat three back. Mylute is looking to capture some past glory, having run against top handicap company for the past couple years and was second in this race a year ago. Lately he has lagged in stakes company, though, and has never won at the distance.

Ami's Flatter ran third behind A. P. Indian in the Phoenix at Keeneland and won the Commonwealth (gr. III) there last spring. He obviously enjoys the trip, having won three of four at seven furlongs.

Threefiveindia is a 3-year-old facing elders. The lightly raced colt is three-for-five in his career and rallied well for third after stumbling at the start of the Gallant Bob (gr. III) last out. Touchofstarquality has rolled three straight runner-up finishes in stakes but steps up in company here.

In the Turnback the Alarm, Lewis Bay looms large, having won the Gazelle (gr. II) this spring and finishing third in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). She has been mixing it up in grade I company in New York and should enjoy the step back here.

Innovative Idea should make the pace. She won the Groupie Doll (gr. III) two back from a stalking spot and then tired to third in the Locust Grove (gr. III) after setting the early fractions. Like Lewis Bay, she is a daughter of Bernardini  . Flora Dora has been chasing champion Songbird around in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama (both gr. I), finishing third and fifth, respectively, but she came up empty in an allowance optional claimer last month. She is a stakes winner at Aqueduct this year but needs to turn things around. Rachel's Temper won the Summer Colony two back but never got untracked in the Beldame.