Aqueduct: Go for Wand a golden opportunity for Willet

[bc_video_id:311061:]OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Moments after Willet finished second to the undefeated Cluster of Stars in the Iroquois Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 19, Jimmy Iselin set his sights on Friday’s Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct.

Willet’s trainer and part-owner, Iselin lamented at the time that his 5-year-old New York-bred mare would likely have to again face Cluster of Stars, a multiple graded stakes winner. However, Cluster of Stars has since been retired and now Willet could be well positioned to secure her first graded stakes victory in the $300,000 Go for Wand, the featured event on a 10-race card that begins at noon Eastern.

A field of eight was entered in the Go for Wand, but trainer Bob Baffert said that Executiveprivilege – the only graded stakes winner in the field – would not ship here from Southern California.

Willet came within a neck of winning the Go for Wand last year, falling short to Nefertini. Last year, Willet came in off a 9 1/4-length victory in the Iroquois, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Willet earned a 95 Beyer for this year’s Iroquois.

Prior to the Iroquois, Willet won the Princess Dixie Stakes for New York-breds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Belmont. She was ridden by Angel Arroyo that day and Arroyo has the mount again with regular pilot Joel Rosario in Kentucky.

“Arroyo handled her beautifully,” Iselin said. “It set her up to run her best race of the year. Unfortunately, it was against Cluster of Stars. Hopefully, she won’t bounce.”

My Pal Chrisy ships up from Gulfstream Park, where she has won three consecutive listed stakes – all since being purchased privately by Robert and Myron Miller, who race as Farnsworth Stables, and transferred to trainer Marty Wolfson.

Though she is coming out of a win going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park, Wolfson said “I bought her to run short. Her short races up to a one-turn mile are very good. She won her last race because she outclassed them.”

My Pal Chrisy breaks from the rail under Javier Castellano.

Street Girl finished fifth – ahead of only Princess of Sylmar – in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff before being purchased by Thomas Berry for $550,000 out of the Keeneland sale on Nov. 4 and turned over to trainer Eddie Kenneally. Previously with Manny Azpurua, Street Girl finished fourth in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga and third in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing.

Fantasy of Flight finished last as the 3-5 favorite in last year’s Go for Wand when she projected as the lone speed. That was the first of nine consecutive losses for Fantasy of Flight, who set the pace before finishing third in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm at Belmont on Oct. 26.

She is trained by Todd Pletcher, as is Go for Wand entrant Royal Lahaina, who finished fourth in the Turnback the Alarm.

Centring, beaten a head as the favorite in the Turnback the Alarm, and Ol Donyo complete the field.