Aqueduct: Our Amazing Rose makes long-awaited return Monday

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Despite a forecast calling for a high temperature of 31 degrees Monday – and possibly light snow – there are signs that spring is inching closer. One is when horses start shipping up from south Florida to run at Aqueduct.

On March 9, the regally bred 3-year-old filly Regent’s House shipped in from Florida to win her debut. On Monday, Our Amazing Rose, an impressive debut winner last July at Saratoga who has been training in Florida, makes her return to the races in a $62,000 first-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Our Amazing Rose will be ridden by John Velazquez, marking the Hall of Fame jockey’s first ride in New York since Oct. 26.

Eight fillies were entered, but Rock Me Mama will scratch after running in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes.

Our Amazing Rose, a daughter of Yes It’s True owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, won her debut by 7 3/4 lengths July 25 at Saratoga, running five furlongs in 57.68 seconds and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

Pletcher said Our Amazing Rose was training with the likes of Stopchargingmaria and Sweet Whiskey, both of whom were first-out winners at Saratoga and eventually won graded stakes. Stopchargingmaria had won a week before Our Amazing Rose raced.

“It was what we were expecting based on the way she’d been training,” Pletcher said. “When Stopchargingmaria won as impressively as she did, we felt she would follow suit.”

Shortly thereafter, Our Amazing Rose underwent colic surgery, which sidelined her for the remainder of 2013.

“It turned out to be uncomplicated surgery, but any time you open them up, you’re going to miss some time,” Pletcher said. “Everything has gone smoothly since we brought her back.”

Our Amazing Rose began training last fall at J.J. Crupi’s farm in Ocala, Fla., before returning to Pletcher at Palm Meadows, where she worked seven times before shipping to New York. Our Amazing Rose worked a half-mile in 48.90 seconds Tuesday at Belmont.

Killaday, a daughter of Indian Charlie, won her debut over the inner track Feb. 17 by 8 3/4 lengths and has since come back with a bullet half-mile workout March 10.

“We’re trying to give her a chance to develop, get a little more seasoning, and then we’ll stretch her out after this race,” trainer Dominick Schettino said. “She has a lot of talent.”

Go West Marie, a well-beaten third in the Dearly Precious Stakes on Feb. 8, scratched out of Saturday’s Cicada for this spot. Trainer David Donk is hoping that with a plethora of speed in here, Go West Marie “can pick up a check.”

Lady Liana, also in from Gulfstream, Flaring, Bella the Bandit, and Gem City Gal complete the field.