Aqueduct: Ballylee stepping up off debut win for Busher Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As well as he expected Ballylee to run in her debut, trainer Tom Albertrani was thinking she would be better second time out.

If she takes even the slightest step forward, Ballylee will be the horse to beat in Saturday’s $100,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct. The Busher, run at 1 1/16 miles, drew a modest group of nine, including Fierce Boots, the upset winner of the Busanda Stakes on Jan. 4 when allowed to get loose on the lead.

Ballylee, a daughter of Street Cry out of the U.A.E. Oaks winner Devotee, won her debut going a mile and 70 yards by 3 1/4 lengths on Dec. 22. Granted, it was not the same day, but Ballylee ran two full seconds faster than Fierce Boots did in winning the Busanda at the same distance.

“Any time a horse wins first time out, you got to give them some respect,” said Albertrani, who trains Ballylee for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable. “Most good ones are pretty talented when they win first time out. She definitely looked like a two-turn horse from the beginning. She breaks her maiden first time out, all the better, knowing she would make a step forward second time.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Ballylee from post 5.

Vero Amore is stretching out in distance after getting beaten a nose in the six-furlong Ruthless Stakes here Jan. 12. She is by Mineshaft out of a mare by The Cliff’s Edge, so her pedigree indicates that 1 1/16 miles should not be an issue.

“She’s got the disposition for it, too,” said trainer Butch Reid, who is based at Parx. “She’s a nice and relaxed filly. I think she’ll settle in fine for the jockey. We’re coming back a little quicker than we would have liked, but she’s doing very well.”

Also shipping in from Parx is Joint Return, a daughter of Include who has won two straight two-turn races, both since getting Lasix.

Correction Stakes: Baby J lightens up

When Baby J finished third in the Interborough on New Year’s Day, she was spotting the top two finishers seven pounds.

In Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes – which drew a field of 12 – Baby J will be at equal weights with Interborough winner Lion D N A, a fact that trainer Pat Reynolds believes will favor his filly.

“She was giving seven pounds to the first two finishers the other day, which, for a little horse like her, is very significant,” said Reynolds, who trains Baby J for Paul Pompa.

This will be Baby J’s third start off a layoff. She won the Grade 3 Victory Ride in her third start off a layoff in the spring. On Dec. 7, Baby J finished third to Ullapool in the Garland of Roses. Ullapool came back to win the Florida Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream.

“She shows up all the time, which is all I can ask from a racehorse,” Reynolds said.

Delightful Quality has finished in the money in 11 of 12 starts for Albertrani and Darley Stable but is still seeking her first stakes win before heading off to the breeding shed next month.

I’m Mom’s Favorite, who won the Miss Preakness in May, won a maiden race exactly one year ago over the inner track. She is making her first start since the Grade 1 Test last August.