Aqueduct: Gendarmour catching up after a late start

Adam Coglianese

Gendarmour (outside) wins her debut at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It took until late in her 3-year-old season for Gendarmour to make it to the races, but the New York-bred daughter of Officer may prove worth the wait.

With two solid races under her belt, Gendarmour looms the horse to beat in a first-level allowance race for statebred fillies and mares that serves as Aqueduct’s feature on Sunday’s nine-race card.

An overflow field of 15 was entered for the six-furlong race in which three are offered for the optional claiming price of $14,000. Only 12 will be permitted to start.

Gendarmour, owned by Gold Mark Farms and trained by John Kimmel, debuted in the mud at Aqueduct on Nov. 9, rallying from off the pace to win by a head at odds of 21-1. She came back a month later and finished second, beaten one-half length by Cinematize.

“She had some small issues that kept her from racing as a 2-year-old,” trainer John Kimmel said. “She’d been training pretty well and ran well first time out and she came back and ran a darn good race second time. I think she got caught a little wide and that may have cost her but she put in a solid effort.”

Gendarmour has caught wet tracks in both of her starts, so that shouldn’t be an issue if a storm scheduled to hit the area Saturday affects the track on Sunday as well.

Cape Cod Carol, who Gendarmour beat by 2 1/2 lengths on Nov. 9, came back to win a maiden race here on Nov. 30. She will break from the rail on Sunday.

Bird House, a daughter of Limehouse, makes her first start since finishing sixth in an overnight stakes going long over the inner track on Feb. 12. Last January, Bird House won a six-furlong maiden race over the inner track.

Gary Gullo, who trains Bird House for Team Power Play Racing, said he thinks his filly will need a race.

“She’s been off for a while, I hope she runs a credible race and we can go from there,” Gullo said.

Jolienne is a six-time winner who ran a respectable third behind Cinematize and Gendarmour at this level on Dec. 9. Jose Ortiz rides from post 6 for Lisa Guerrero.

Quiet Sunshine was claimed by Nick Canani for $16,000 out of a race at Hollywood Park on Nov. 25. This will be her first start against New York-breds.

My Wildest Dreams could be dangerous if able to draw in off the also-eligible list. She is a nine-time winner and has the speed to be a factor for trainer Chris Englehart, who has won three races this week after beginning the inner track meet 0 for 11.