Sky Mesa Returns Today

Sky Mesa, one of the better 2-year-olds of 2002, will make his first start since Oct. 5 in the $150,000 Dwyer Stakes today at Belmont Park.

Owned by John Oxley and trained by John Ward, Sky Mesa, a son of Pulpit, was scheduled to run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Oct. 26 at Arlington Park, but suffered an ankle injury. After a layoff, he had another setback earlier in the year and is finally beginning his comeback in the Dwyer, a prep for some of the more important 3-year-olds races yet to be run in 2003.

In his three starts last year, Sky Mesa broke his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths at Saratoga, won the Hopeful by 1 3/4 lengths four weeks later at the same track, then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and won the Lanes End Breeders’ Futurity by four lengths on Oct. 5. Edgar Prado was his rider in the three victories and he’ll be aloft this afternoon.

A Grade II at 1 1/16 miles, the Dwyer also attracted Private City, Nacheezmo, Colita, Strong Hope, Best Minister, Go Rockin’ Robin and Albaaz.

Owned by Eugene and Laura Melnyk and trained by Todd Pletcher, Belmont Park’s leading trainer, Strong Hope, who was purchased for $1.7 million as a yearling, has won three in a row. This will be the first stakes appearance for the son of Grand Slam, who will be ridden by John Velasquez.

Race of the day: Valentine Dancer, who has won two in a row over the Hollywood Park turf course, and the unbeaten Just Too Too will meet in the $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes at a mile on the grass. The ungraded event is the feature on Hollywood Park’s nine-race card.

One for the road: Limehouse, who has won both of his races for Pletcher, may be able to upset favored Cuvee in the $150,000 Bashford Manor, the closing day feature on the Churchill Downs card. The son of Grand Slam could get the right trip in a race filled with early speed and he will appreciate more distance.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Gentle- stone in the fourth, using Hezafreespirit and Slew Stew in the fifth and Altruistic, Greely Creek, Our Game Plan and Laughing Sunrise in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/146. Money: $22.20/$781.60. Total money bet: $932.