With the Angels maintains sharp form, takes Correction Stakes
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The three runners who stuck around to face With the Angels paid the price at Aqueduct on Saturday, as the 4-5 favorite left them all behind to win the $135,000 Correction Stakes.
In nine starts, the New York-bred filly has never finished worse than second for trainer Linda Rice and is now an open-company stakes winner.
“She's an absolute doll to train,” Rice said. “Every day, she never makes a wrong move. She’s such a pleasure to be around."
As a juvenile, With the Angels began her career with four straight victories, including three in statebred stakes, before missing nearly a year. Returning last October, she won 2 of 3 allowance starts and finished second in the $150,000 Garland of Roses in December. Her triumph on Sunday seemed to be a matter of time.
Hold Your Breath, Alani, and On Command all scratched from the Correction, simplifying things for jockey Jose Lezcano aboard the heavy favorite. Lucille Ball, the 8-5 second choice and expected pacesetter, did not go to the early lead, but With the Angels still managed to settle into a stalking position behind longshot My Lil Punky and the David Duggan-trained mare Sunday Girl.
My Lil Punky completed the opening quarter-mile in 23.22, but the filly was merely setting the stage for those behind her in the six-furlong sprint. Sunday Girl made the first move, advancing under Katie Davis on the far turn to take a short lead through a half-mile in 46.92. She did her best to hold on, but she was powerless when With the Angels launched her bid from third.
“She broke very sharp,” Lezcano said. “I was outside. I was able to sit the whole way. When I asked, she really changed leads and ran them down and took off pretty good. She won very good today.”
With the Angels needed only the slightest urging from Lezcano to leap in front at the top of the stretch. The filly was clear well before the wire and lengthened her advantage in the stretch, winning by 4 1/4 lengths. She completed the six-furlong distance in 1:10.97 and paid $3.82 to win.
Per the New York Racing Association, Rice said With the Angels will now point to the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff at Aqueduct on April 4. She last tried seven furlongs in September 2024, defeating statebred rivals by 9 3/4 lengths in the $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma.
Lucille Ball, a 10 1/2-length allowance winner in January for trainer Chris Englehart, did more running Sunday than she did in the $135,000 Interborough on Feb. 6. The filly still failed to make a compelling bid, however, finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Sunday Girl in third.
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