Aqueduct notes: Maiden favored in Dearly Precious

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Lady Banks, here winning the Ruthless, could soon be headed to south Florida, where she would run in the $250,000 Davona Dales Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It's not too often you see a maiden assigned favoritism in a stakes race, but such is the case Saturday at Aqueduct, where the New York Racing Association’s linemaker, Eric Donovan, made Elghayoor the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $75,000 Dearly Precious Stakes.

Elghayoor, a daughter of Ghostzapper, finished second in two maiden races – neither of which saw her as the favorite. She was beaten two lengths by Kiss the Lady – also in this field – before finishing second behind Dear to All.

Elghayoor, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, will break from post 3 under Eddie Castro.

Kiss the Lady, who finished second in the Ruthless behind Lady Banks, drew post 3 and was made the 5-2 morning-line third choice.

Cubicle Queen, a maiden winner over the inner track on Jan. 5, is the second choice at 2-1. She drew the rail.

Railtown Girl, third in the Ruthless, and Maggiesfreuddnslip, a maiden winner here on Jan. 10, round out the field.

Lady Banks may try Davona Dale

It was no surprise that Ruthless Stakes winner Lady Banks was not entered for the Dearly Precious Stakes. Her connections are eyeing bigger, better, and longer races for their 3-year-old filly.

Lady Banks could soon be headed to south Florida, where she would run in the $250,000 Davona Dales Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The Davona Dale offers 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks.

“We felt we’d pick out a race where we could pick up some points and learn something about two turns,” said James Lawrence, who trains Lady Banks for George and Stephanie Autry. “We like to see if she can go two turns, which we wholeheartedly believe she can.”

Lawrence said Plan B would be to run in the $125,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes, a one-turn mile race at Laurel on March 2.

Lawrence said Lady Banks would likely breeze this weekend at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland. Depending how the work goes and how she comes out of it, Lady Banks could then ship to Florida at the beginning of next week and have her final breeze at Gulfstream.

“She’s such a neat filly, I don’t think the shipping should bother her,” Lawrence said.