Five line up for inaugural Seattle Slew
by NYRA Press Office
Grade 1 Whitney runner-up Comfort gets back in action on Saturday as the 6-5 favorite in a competitive field of five in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Seattle Slew at Belmont Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Comfort picked up the first stakes victory of his career two races back, drawing off to a 3 ¼-length win in the restricted State Dinner over fellow Seattle Slew entrant Touchofstarquality at Belmont in July.
The 4-year-old bay colt by Indian Charlie returned from that effort to make his Grade 1 debut, finishing a late-closing second to multiple graded stakes winner Frosted in the Whitney on August 6 at Saratoga Race Course.
Comfort will break from the rail with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard.
Jay Em Ess Stable's Touchofstarquality, who returned from the State Dinner to finish second in the Alydar on August 7, will try to turn the tables on the State Dinner winner for trainer Michelle Nevin.
Installed as the 2-1 second choice on the morning line, the 6-year-old Mineshaft gelding will be ridden from post 2.
Already a Group 1 winner in his native Brazil at 3, Baccelo will look to build on his 1 ½-length score last time out in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin for owner-trainer David Jacobson.
A 6-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet will depart from post 3 with Javier Castellano in the irons.
Rounding out the field for the Seattle Slew are Tapin Mojo, fifth in the Grade 1 Woodward on September 3, and multiple graded stakes-placed Mylute, third in the Alydar in his last start.
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