BY BROCK SHERIDAN
NBS Stable’s graded stakes-winning Florida-bred Ground Support is the 3-1 morning line favorite to earn her first victory of the year in the first division of the $200,000 Glen Cove, set for seven furlongs on the turf at Belmont Park Sunday. Trained by Kelsey Danner, Ground Support has post four in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies.
An out-of-state victory by Ground Support in a Grade 3 would earn breeder Michael Sucher and his Champion Equine of Delray Beach, Florida a $5,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Ground Support was close last time in the Grade 2 Ainsworth Music City at Kentucky Downs on September 5, missing by just a half-length behind winner Somerset West when a game third on the rail going six-and-a-half furlongs on the undulating turf.
Kentucky Downs was the site of her debut victory last year on August 30 when she took a one-mile maiden special weight at odds of 100-1.
After her maiden victory, she won last year’s Grade 2 Miss Grillo going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct on October 4 before finishing her year with a solid third after a rough trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) won by Balantine (Ire) at Del Mar on October 31.
An eight-month break followed the Breeders’ Cup before Danner began Ground Support’s 3-year-old campain in the $258,000 Tepin (Listed) at Churchill Downs on June 27. She stalked from a length back in third then took aim at the leaders at the top of the stretch but tired to finish fifth. Ground Support returned to Del Mar a month later for Grade 2 San Clement on July 18 and was again fifth, less than three lengths off winner Sumerset West.
Ground Support enters Sunday with career earnings of $331,537 from two wins and two thirds in six starts—all with jockey Adam Beschizza who rides in Glen Cove.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will saddle Brandy and Me, who is undefeated in two starts.
The bay daughter of Silent Name (Jpn) out of Aquinnah, by City Place won a $40,000 optional claiming maiden race on synthetic at Woodbine on August 1 by five-and-a-half lengths and the $201,000 Algoma versus Canadian-bred sales graduates on August, 30, winning by two-and-a-half lengths.
Brandy and Me is 9-2 in the program and will be ridden by Paco Lopez from post three.
Rounding out the field are Light Won Up and jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Paris Carver with Danny Egan taking the assignment, Peppermint Twist will be captained by Javier Castellano, Snappy Comeback will have Samuel Marin in the irons, Edgar Zayas has the call on Spirit Doll, New Rose will have Antonio Fresu in the saddle, Ricardo Santana Jr. will guide Emblaze and Beach Heist has Manny Franco named to ride.
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