Annie Rocks, Bombshell meet in Thursday allowance feature

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two months down, two months to go.

As the calendar turns to February, we have reached the halfway point of Aqueduct’s inner-track meet. Through Sunday, 28 of 31 scheduled cards have been run. Between Thursday and March 26, 29 more inner-track cards are scheduled. Beginning Thursday, first post is pushed back to 12:50 p.m. Eastern until March 2, when it becomes 1:20 p.m.

For Annie Rocks, it doesn’t seem to matter the season or surface. She has run well on dirt in the summer, turf in the fall, and the inner track in the winter. She looms as the horse to beat Thursday in a first-level allowance for fillies and mares going a mile that serves as the Aqueduct feature.

On Dec. 11, Annie Rocks just missed clearing this condition, losing a nose bob to Chorus Line. Annie Rocks finished 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Daisy Cutter, who came back to win this condition Jan. 6. Daisy Cutter defeated Bombshell, who figures to be the major threat to Annie Rocks on Thursday.

Jason Servis, the trainer of Annie Rocks, said his filly wasn’t quite ready to run back in that Jan. 6 race, so he opted to wait.

“She hadn’t bounced back yet, still needed to put on some weight,” Servis said. “It’s nice not to have the pressure to run. If you’re not 100 percent, usually it sets you back further. She was telling us to wait.”

Riot Worthy steps into open company and stretches out in distance after winning a second-level New York-bred allowance going six furlongs Dec. 14.

KEY CONTENDERS

Annie Rocks, by A.P. Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 87-78-77

◗ Has a win, a second, and a third in three starts since being claimed back for $50,000 last August by owner Michael Dubb and Servis after losing her for $40,000 in the previous start.

“She’s a young filly, I think she could still improve,” Servis said. “She just turned 4.”

◗ Is reunited with Irad Ortiz Jr., this meet’s leading rider, who is 2 for 2 aboard the filly.

Bombshell, by Bellamy Road
Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-67

◗ Fought on but really had no excuse when second in this condition in her first start going long Jan. 6.

◗ Finished a good second after stumbling at the start going 6 1/2 furlongs in first start for trainer Jimmy Jerkens on Dec. 4.

Riot Worthy, by Patriot Act
Last 3 Beyers: 74-79-77

◗ A perennial bridesmaid, she has won two of her last three starts.

◗ Returned from a four-month layoff to win a six-furlong, second-level New York-bred allowance over the inner track Dec. 14. Runners from that race have recorded two wins and two seconds from seven subsequent starts.