Aqueduct: Fortify, Carried Interest bring back class to route

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fortify and Carried Interest were both Grade 2 stakes-placed in the second starts of their careers as 2-year-olds. While their preciousness did not lead to future success, it does make for a pretty interesting matchup in a second-level optional $50,000 claiming feature at one mile Sunday at Aqueduct.

Fortify, a son of Distorted Humor owned by Godolphin Racing, won his debut at Saratoga and then raced three times against Shanghai Bobby, finishing second, third, and fourth, respectively, behind the 2012 2-year-old champion in the Hopeful, Champagne, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

After a trip to Dubai, where he finished in sixth in the UAE 2000 Guineas, Fortify returned to the United States and, in his second start back, won an off-the-turf first-level allowance Dec. 6 at Aqueduct with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. He came back 25 days later and finished fourth as the 1-2 favorite in a second-level allowance.

In that race, in which Cease won by 9 1/2 lengths, Fortify got off a tad slowly and had to check around the far turn. He has bounced back with two superlative workouts leading up to this.

“Unlucky trip, wasn’t our day,” said Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “We still think highly of him. He’s on the engine training.”

McLaughlin also will send out Irsaal, 13 days after finishing third at this condition.

Carried Interest, a debut winner over Palace Malice in July 2012 at Belmont Park, finished second in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont in September that year. In a career interrupted by sore shins, an upper suspensory problem, and foot issues, it wasn’t until Jan. 5 when Carried Interest cleared the first-level allowance hurdle, winning by two lengths over next-out winner Abra.

Carried Interest, who has never raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, is trying two turns for the first time in Sunday’s $69,000 race.

“He’s out of a Quiet American mare, and this is the first time in his career where he’s been able to put a couple of races close enough together to put a foundation to try two turns,” trainer Rick Violette said. “We’re looking to find out if that’s in his arsenal.”

Speed is certainly in Carried Interest’s arsenal, and Violette said he will instruct jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to use it from the outside post.

Mr Palmer won a maiden race over the inner track last February and the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel in March before an injury sustained in the Wood Memorial sidelined him. He came within a nose of Writingonthewall last out in this condition, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

“He’s come out of the race, knock on wood, really good,” said Leana Willaford, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “He’s working well and acts pretty sharp. Put his weight back on; he always loses a lot of weight after he runs.”

Midnight Taboo finished a half-length behind Mr Palmer in that Jan. 1 optional-claiming race and was taken by owner Jeff Treadway and trainer Leah Gyarmati for $50,000.

Lubango and Socialsaul complete the field.