Aqueduct: Allowance sprint better option for Merry Meadow than stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Presented with several options for his 4-year-old filly Merry Meadow, trainer Mark Hennig took what he hopes will be the path of least resistance when he runs her in Friday’s $64,000 second-level allowance feature at Aqueduct as racing resumes following a four-day hiatus.

Hennig had Merry Meadow entered in last Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes, but scratched when that race came up with a 12-horse field. He also has her nominated for the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 15. Hennig wasn’t considering the allowance race because it was first scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs, but he reconsidered when the distance was altered to six furlongs.

Merry Meadow, a daughter of Henny Hughes, has finished first or second in her last nine starts dating back to May 3. On Nov. 13, she crossed the wire first by 3 3/4 lengths in a first-level allowance but was disqualified and placed third when she veered in, impeding Ultimate Shopper, who was caught for second by My Place.

Merry Meadow came back Dec. 4 to clear her first allowance condition by a neck. In her most recent start, she finished second to the loose-on-the-lead longshot Laguna Girl in the Are We Dreamin Stakes.

Friday, Merry Meadow moves from an inside post – which she has had in her last three races – to post 6 in a seven-horse field.

“She’s a filly that likes to have a little bit of a target to run at,” Hennig said. “The inside post forced her to use her speed a little.”

Rajiv Maragh will ride Merry Meadow.

There should be ample targets for Merry Meadow as Indian Splendor, drawn in the outside post, and Saichi Sweepin and Trail Walker, drawn in the two inside posts, all have a propensity to be forwardly placed.

A potential speed duel also could benefit contenders My Place and Cape Cod Carol.

My Place won her debut sprinting and was then the beneficiary of the disqualification of Merry Meadow in the aforementioned Nov. 13 race. My Place then tried to stretch out, but finished fourth in a second-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles after setting the early pace.

“She’s a great big, rangy filly. You think she’d want to stretch out,” said Leana Willaford, the New York-based assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “Her perfect distance is probably going to be seven-eighths. Three-quarter is better than going long. That didn’t work out.”

Manuel Franco rides My Place from post 3.

Cape Cod Carol, a New York-bred daughter of Rockport Harbor, is coming off a 3 3/4-length victory in a first-level allowance gong 5 1/2 furlongs here Jan. 2. Irad Ortiz, the leading rider at the meet, has the call from post 4.

Nicole’s Miss El, who has lost her last 13 starts, as well as Saichi Sweepin and Trail Walker are all entered for the optional claiming price of $50,000.