Aqueduct: Expression trying a mile for Baker

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There have been more than 400 claims made at Aqueduct this winter, and one of the better ones may be Expression, whom trainer Charlton Baker will attempt to turn into a stakes winner in Wednesday’s $75,000 Limit Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Claimed by Baker for himself for $35,000 out of a winning effort in Jan. 11, Expression finished second in a restricted first-level allowance race before winning a starter/optional claimer going six furlongs on Feb. 16.

In the Limit, Expression will be attempting a two-turn mile race for the first time. As a daughter of 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor out of a Gone West mare, the added distance shouldn’t be a problem for Expression.

“I think she might want to stretch out,” said Baker, who has had a solid meet with 10 wins from 60 starters. “I’ll get a gauge on where she is. She closed pretty decently in her races, and she acts like she has more in here. You never know until you try them.”

In her first start for Baker, Expression chased a loose-on-the-lead favorite Union Victory. Though beaten nearly five lengths, she finished four lengths clear of the rest of the field.

In her victory, Expression overcame a hard bump at the break to rally from last to win by a neck over Lion Alexandra.

Baker said by stretching her out in distance he expects Expression to lay closer to the pace than she did in her last start.

David Cohen will ride Expression from post 4.

Hard Mystery has won two straight two-turn races over the inner track, including a similar spot such as this on Jan. 19. Overall, she has 3 wins and 1 second from 4 starts around two turns.

“Her two races over the inner track were very good,” trainer George Weaver said. “I thought she won them both easily. I know there are tough horses in there, but if she runs the same type of races she’s shown, that should put her in the mix.”

Eddie Castro will ride Hard Mystery from post 3.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out the uncoupled entry of Lisa T. and Down by Law. Lisa T. won a one-mile maiden race over the inner track in December. She was third in the Dearly Precious sprinting before finishing fourth after bobbling at the break of the Busher Stakes going two turns on Feb. 25.

Down by Law, a daughter of Awesome Again, won a two-turn maiden race over the inner track in her second start.

Zucchini Flower, a six-length maiden winner at Laurel in her dirt and 3-year-old debut last month, and Parx shippers Whisperdownthelane and Wicked Mizz complete the field.