Sheriffa doesn't need lead to win Staten Island

Expected to set the pace, Sheriffa broke behind the field but recovered to win Sunday’s Staten Island division of the $125,000 New York Stallion Stakes by a length at Aqueduct.

Sheriffa ($7.60) looked like the main speed on paper, but it was last year’s Staten Island winner, Vicki’s Dancer, who broke to a clear lead and set fractions of 23.10 and 46.07 seconds while slightly removed from the rail, as Sheriffa recovered to reach a contending position down the backstretch.

Vicki’s Dancer drifted out into the stretch while tiring, and Sheriffa was up to take the lead with a furlong remaining. She drove clear beneath Cornelio Velasquez, and held off a late run from Saythreehailmary’s, who had finished second in the Staten Island last year as well. Old Harbor was third. Vicki’s Dancer faded to finish next-to-last in the field of eight New York-bred fillies and mares.

Sheriffa ran seven furlongs in 1:23.57 on a fast track, and earned $75,000.

“She broke slow and backed up right before the gate opened,” said Velasquez. “I had no choice but to run her behind the 3[(Old Harbor] at that point, but she ran a big one today. When she got to the lead, she galloped.”

Claimed by Linda Rice for a mere $16,000 last year, Sheriffa has now won her last four starts against New York-breds since December 31, including the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes in May. However, this was the first time Sheriffa, a 4-year-old filly by Posse, has ever won without the early lead.

“I was sick to my stomach [after the break],” said Rice. “She kind of out-broke the gates, popped them open and got off awkwardly, but Cornelio sat patiently and got the job done anyway. She’s been a great claim. There’s always quite a few we don’t talk about, but she’s one of the good ones.”