The sole Grade I winner in the field, Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) looks to be the one to beat in Sunday's GII Gallant Bloom H. at Belmont. The winner of the Royal Delta S. in Elmont last season, the Carlos Martin trainee closed out 2018 with a close-up second behind Marley's Freedom (Blame) in the GIII Go For Wand H. at the Big A in December. Given plenty of time off until her seasonal return at the South Ozone Park oval in the Apr. 5 GIII Distaff H., she won for fun that day before adding another emphatic score to her resume in a muddy renewal of the mile GII Ruffian S. at Belmont May 5. Having to play the bridesmaid behind divisional leader Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in the June 8 GI Ogden Phipps S., she was given a brief freshener and resumed with an off-the-pace victory in the seven-furlong GI Ballerina S. Aug. 24. Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the first time in the Ballerina, gets the return call in the Gallant Bloom. Minit to Stardom (Star Guitar), a stakes winner against Louisiana-bred foes at the Fair Grounds last season, has hit the board in all five prior starts this year, including the three wins this spring and summer. A front-running winner going six furlongs in a Delaware optional claimer May 8, the bay added another going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Laurel turf June 7 before making it three straight in Saratoga's GII Honorable Miss H. July 24. Alex Cintron, who has been aboard for all three wins this term, gets back aboard.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
