BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A runner-up last time in her second start after eight months off, stakes-placed Good Long Cry figures to have a good shot at her first win this year in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming at Belmont Park Friday. Trained by George Weaver, the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly is rated at 7-2 on the morning line among six fillies and mares set to go one mile on the turf for a purse of $108,000.
An out-of-state victory at this level would earn Sabana Farm of Ocala, Florida a $3,000 Export Incentive as breeders paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
After winning her last two races in 2026 in a $42,700 allowance race on the turf at Meadowlands on September 19 and an $80,000 claiming on the Churchill Downs grass on November 16, Good Long Cry was given a break. Good Long Cry returned to the turf at Ellis Park on July 25, finishing fourth in an upper tier, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth. She improved considerably in her last race on September 3 on the unique grass course at Kentucky Downs, finishing second, less than a length off winner Little Jamie, in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going a mile.
Good Long Cry has been reliable throughout her 15 race career, finishing in the top three 10 times including three wins, five seconds and two thirds. She has earned $234,331 for Black Type Thoroughbreds and Swinbank Stables including a third to winner Tank in the $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs last year.
Jose Lezcano will ride Good Long Cry from post five.
Chad Brown will saddle the 9-5 morning line favorite, Growth Trajectory (GB), who makes her first start since June when third in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct.
The lightly-raced daughter of Wekeela (Fr) last won in November, taking a first level allowance race going a mile on the inner turf during the Belmont at Big A meet.
Her lifetime record reflects two wins in five starts with a third and proceeds of $90,700 for owner Klaravich Stable.
Flavien Prat has the call on Growth Trajectory and they will start from rail.
Brown and Klaravich will also be represented by Marketplaceofideas (GB), who in consecutive starts won a maiden special weight on the inner turf at Aqueduct on April 23 and a first condition allowance on the turf at Saratoga on June 6. In one race since, she was seventh in a second level, $80,000 optional claiming over a grassy mile on the inner turf at Saratoga on August 5.
Manny Franco will be aboard Marketplaceofideas from the outside post six and they are 3-1 in the program.
Rounding the field are Stillthinkingofyou with jockey Christopher Elliott, La Ceiba (Fr) and rider Antonio Fresu and Getting Serious with Samuel Marin in the irons.
Return to the October 8 issue of Wire to Wire
