Aqueduct: Mental Iceberg faces easier in Friday feature

Figuring out who will handle the inner track may be the key to deciphering Thursday’s feature, as four of the six New York-bred 3-year-olds in the preliminary allowance graduated from the maiden ranks on turf last fall.

Mental Iceberg, who was sidelined for two months after being clipped from behind in a debut victory at Belmont, may go favored in the one-mile race, following off-the-board-finishes in the Remsen and the Jerome at odds in excess of 70-1.

Although Mental Iceberg finished sixth in the recent Jerome, he raced wide throughout and was beaten less than a length for third. He earned a new top Beyer Speed Figure of 76 for the effort, which gives him a slim edge on Deceived and Sandcat, based on their best races.

Deceived has been slow from the gate repeatedly, but has nevertheless finished in the money in each of his five starts for Leah Gyarmati. After a big win on a muddy track Dec. 7, he returned 11 days later in the Damon Runyon and lunged at the break. He finished third behind unbeaten Samraat, who is eyeing next week’s Withers Stakes.

Sandcat, a $145,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, captured his debut at Saratoga for John Kimmel. He is the only member of this field to have won on a fast track, and may have sufficient early speed to grab the early lead stretching out from sprints.

Mark My Way and Storm have both been idle since maiden wins over the Big A grass course in November.

Mark My Way has license to handle the surface switch, as his dam is a half-sister to dual Grade 2 winner Fed Biz, and she has already produced a two-time dirt winner in Belushi.

Storm, everybody’s hunch play in the aftermath of winter’s latest salvo, won his first and only start Nov. 23, running his final quarter in under 24 seconds to prevail in a photo.

Balderdash, last of six in the Damon Runyon, gets a second chance on dirt.

Five in Ladies Handicap

Saturday’s Ladies Handicap, the nation’s oldest stakes race for females, attracted five fillies and mares when entries were drawn Monday.

In post order, the field for the 142nd Ladies (with weights) is: Teen Pauline (122), Firenze Feeling (116), Flash Forward (116), Centring (119), and Royal Lahaina (123).

Todd Pletcher, fresh off a sixth Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer of 2013, sends out Teen Pauline and Royal Lahaina in search of his first Ladies victory.

“An ideal scenario would be an easy pace up front [for Teen Pauline],” said assistant trainer Byron Hughes. “We’re hoping [Royal Lahaina] sits close to the pace, and we’ll see what she can do from there.”