Oscar Performance, Good Samaritan Head Pennine Ridge

Amerman Racing's Oscar Performance looks to recapture his 2016 form as part of a field of eight 3-year-olds in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge (G3T) going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf at Belmont Park June 3.

Trained by Brian Lynch, the son of Kitten's Joy   finished off the board in his first two races of 2017, with poor starts leading to a fifth in the Transylvania Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3T) at Keeneland and a 10th in the May 6 American Turf Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) last out at Churchill Downs. But Lynch said Oscar Performance has been training like he did when he won three of his first four starts, including last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

ANGST: Oscar Performance Golden in Juvenile Turf

"He's looked a bit questionable after his last two starts and (hopefully) he doesn't have the 2-year-old Breeders' Cup curse," Lynch said. "I make no excuses for him. He's trained well coming in. Hopefully we get firm turf. He had a nice work with an older 3-year-old horse this week, so I thought it was a good gauge where we're at with him."

Oscar Performance, who has run five previous times at 1 1/16 miles, will be stretched out to the Pennine Ridge distance for the first time.

"The distance won't be a limitation for him. I just want to see him get back to one of his 'A' game races," Lynch said. "Both his last two starts back haven't been the cleanest break, so hopefully we got rid of those hiccups and he leaves here running."

Good Samaritan, who finished third to Oscar Performance in the Breeders' Cup, looms off a strong runner-up effort in the American Turf, where he finished one length behind winner Arklow. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Good Samaritan is 2-1-1 in four starts.

Graded stakes winner Ticonderoga, trained by Chad Brown, won the March 4 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) before a fourth-place effort in the Transylvania.

Secretary At War won his stakes debut for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, capturing the April 22 Woodhaven at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Rounding out the field are Prize Fight, Bowies Hero, Makarios, and Muggsamatic. Bonus Points is entered for the main track only.

Pennine Ridge S. (G3)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 03, 2017, Race 9

• 1 1/8m
• Inner turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo
• 5:45 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Prize Fight (FL)	Eric Cancel	115	Michael J. Maker	30/1
2	2Bowies Hero (KY)	Rajiv Maragh	121	Philip D'Amato	7/2
3	3Bonus Points (MD)	Rider TBA	121	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
4	4Makarios (KY)	Angel S. Arroyo	117	Nicholas P. Zito	10/1
5	5Muggsamatic (FL)	Cornelio H. Velasquez	121	Kathleen O'Connell	20/1
6	6Oscar Performance (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	Brian A. Lynch	4/1
7	7Ticonderoga (KY)	Manuel Franco	117	Chad C. Brown	6/1
8	8Secretary At War (KY)	John R. Velazquez	121	James A. Jerkens	8/1
9	9Good Samaritan (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	William I. Mott	8/5