Aqueduct: Bridgehampton tunes up for Distaff

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Seemingly on her way to becoming a stakes filly, Bridgehampton had her 3-year-old season cut short last summer due to a minor injury.

Sunday, Bridgehampton looks to start over when she returns from a nine-month layoff in a $62,000 first-level allowance race for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Aqueduct.

Bridgehampton, a daughter of Bernardini owned by Barry Schwartz and trained by Mike Hushion, won a six-furlong maiden race by two lengths at Belmont Park last May 30 in her second career start, her first on dirt. A month later, she finished a respectable second to Baby J in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes. Though she continued to train throughout the summer, Bridgehampton was diagnosed with an ankle chip that required surgery, according to Schwartz.

Bridgehampton returned to training this winter at Palm Meadows in south Florida, where she got in five workouts for Hushion before shipping to New York. She completed preparations with a five-furlong drill in 1:02.40 over the Belmont Park training track last Sunday.

“She trained in Florida very well,” said Schwartz, who is hoping to use this race as a prep for the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff here on April 19. “She’s a fast filly, without a doubt.”

Jose Ortiz will ride Bridgehampton from post 4. Bridgehampton is coupled in the wagering with Jonata, who will break from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr.

There appears to plenty of early speed types entered in this race, including Highestmaintenance, a Todd Pletcher-trained runner who blew a two-length lead in the stretch of a spot similar to this on Feb. 28 when beaten a half-length by Make the Moment. Cubicle Queen and Talent N Passion also possess early speed.

A strong pace could set things up for Superior Sarah, a 6-year-old Werblin mare who has 3 wins and 7 seconds from 18 career starts. She has never been worse than third in six starts over the inner track, including a second and a third in two starts here this winter.

Superior Sarah will break from the outside post in the eight-horse field, something her trainer, Tom Albertrani, views as a positive.

“She seems to prefer to be outside of horses,” Albertrani said. “That’s a good post for her to break from. She runs her heart out every time. She’s pretty consistent. I can’t fault her for any of her races, really.”

Cornelio Velasquez rides Superior Sarah.

Keep Bustin, a five-time winner in New York-bred company, comes off a fifth-place finish as the 8-5 favorite in open company at Parx last out. Eta Carinae shortens to a sprint after finishing a well-beaten fourth in a mile-and-70-yard allowance try here on Jan. 20.