Emerald Beech and the last year winner of Long Island Handicap, Mekong Melody, to head this years’ edition of the Long Island Handicap
Running a powerful three race win streak this season, including the Grade 3 Glens Falls Handicap over at 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga on 5 September, 2011, the 5-year-old mare, Emerald Beech, will carry top weight of 119 pounds in the Grade 3, $150,000 Long Island
Handicap on 12 November, 2011, at Aqueduct racecourse.
Trained by Jonathan E. Sheppard for Augustin Stable, Emerald Beech is coming off a 4th place finish in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl to the winner Stacelita at Belmont Park on 1 October, 2011.
The 1 ¼ mile races’ top 3 were the Breeders’ Cup contenders Distorted Legacy and Dynaslew, as Stacelita covered the 1 ¼ miles race in 2 minutes and 10.39 seconds.
The Grade 3 Long Island Handicap has reeled in 8 fillies and mares ranging from 3-year-old and beyond to compete over at 1 ½ miles on grass. Emerald Beech will break from post number 6, which will suit her off the pace style running perfectly, under her
2011 usual rider Alex Solis and will be sent off at the odds of 8 to 5.
The daughter of Maria’s Mon, out of Beyond the Waves by Ocean Crest, Emerald Beech has gone on to produce a winning record of 5 wins out of her 16 starts altogether, with a lone second place finish and 3 third place finishes for earnings of $263,838.
“The Flower Bowl wasn’t her best showing,” said Sheppard. “She was stuck down on the inside and couldn’t really get running until the stretch. She certainly wasn’t disgraced; it was a grade I. And, I think the 1 1/2 miles is the most suitable distance for
her.”
The Long Island Handicap is also headed by the last year’s winner, Mekong Melody, as the Irish bred seeks her first win of the 2011 season after running seven races this year.
Her best finish this year came in the Canadian Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine in July, when he Cape Cross mare finished third. Since her 2010 victory in the Long Island Handicap by a decisive 3 ¾ lengths, Mekong Melody hasn’t returned to the winning
circle ever since.
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