Aqueduct: Marriedtothemusic tries to fire fresh in allowance sprint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When the Ruthless Stakes failed to fill for Saturday, a pair of New York-bred first-level allowance races became the co-features on the nine-race program at Aqueduct.

The eighth race, a $52,000 sprint scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs, appears the more interesting of the two with the return of the speedy stakes-placed runner Marriedtothemusic, who has not been out since August at Saratoga, topping the 11-horse field.

Marriedtothemusic, trained by Dominic Galluscio for Dutchess Views Farm, has 3 wins and 2 seconds from 6 career starts. A son of Disco Rico, Marriedtothemusic ran three times during the Saratoga meet, winning an optional claimer July 21 before running second in the Claramount Stakes on Aug. 7 and second in this same condition Aug. 24.

“I ran him too close at Saratoga. I thought it was prudent to give him a little time,” Galluscio said.

Despite having his training interrupted due to the recent cold weather, Marriedtothemusic has a pair of five-furlong workouts in December and a sharp half-mile move in 48.60 seconds on New Year’s Day.

“His last work was good, and I have two five-eighths under his belt,” Galluscio said. “He should be ready to do his thing.”

Marriedtothemusic’s speed is his thing, and he will likely look to wire this field breaking from post 4 under Cornelio Velasquez.
Ed’s Magic, who was beaten a head in this same condition Dec. 28, finished nearly seven lengths clear of the rest of the field. In that race, he was making his first start since being claimed for $35,000 on Nov. 20 by Jeremiah Englehart. Jose Ortiz rides from post 7.

Billy the Bull, a son of Holy Bull trained by Eddie Kenneally, was a debut winner from just off the pace over the inner track in March. Sent off the favorite in his next start over the main track April 6, Billy the Bull got caught up in a speed duel and finished 10th in the 12-horse field. This will be his first start since then, and he has attracted leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

The other allowance race for statebreds goes as the first and is carded at 1 1/16 miles. Alwaysimycircle, second in two starts off a 75-day layoff, could play out as the primary speed under Jose Ortiz.

All in the family

Two races before Galluscio runs Marriedtothemusic on Saturday, he will send out that colt’s 3-year-old half-sister, Marriedtomichael in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race that goes as the sixth.

Marriedtomichael, a daughter of Patriot Act, will break from post 2 under C.C. Lopez.

“She doesn’t have quite the sire power being by Patriot Act,” Galluscio said. “I hope we get more genes from the dam side. She shows speed like her brother.”

The 5 1/2-furlong maiden race drew an overflow field of 13, nine of whom are first-time starters. Saratoga Shoes, trained by George Weaver, is a $130,000 2-year-old in training purchase and a half-sister to 11-time winner Bwana Babe.

Very Accomplished, trained by Charlton Baker, is a daughter of Borrego out of the stakes-winning mare Sarah Accomplished but will have to deal with post 12.

Supplements help Ruthless fill

After not going for Saturday, the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies filled for Sunday, thanks to a pair of supplemental nominations.

Vero Amore, a daughter of Mineshaft who has won 2 of 3 starts, was supplemented to the race by trainer Butch Reid, who is based at Parx Racing. The New York Racing Association, effective Friday, lifted its ban on Parx shippers after a case of equine herpesvirus was diagnosed on that track’s backstretch in November.

The other supplement is Keep in Mind, a horse who just won for maiden claiming $20,000 here Dec. 28 with a Beyer Speed Figure of 28.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will have the two fillies to beat in the uncoupled entry of Mamdoodha and Summertime Friend.

Alpaca Fina, fifth after stumbling at the start of the Busanda Stakes on Jan. 4, completes the field.

Taris targets Wide Country

One horse who would have been interesting had she run in the Ruthless was Taris, who won a maiden race here Dec. 21 by 11 3/4 lengths for Penn National-based trainer Todd Beattie.

Beattie said that he wants to stretch out Taris in distance gradually and is targeting the $100,000 Wide Country Stakes going seven furlongs at Laurel Park on Jan. 25.

“She’s sent me every telegram in the world she wants to go long,” Beattie said. “I’m really fond of her. Everything she showed me leading up to that first race was special. It didn’t surprise me she ran that good.”