Aqueduct: Servis has complementary pair for Fickle Fanny Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When Jason Servis sends out the uncoupled, complementary entry of Indian Splendor and Lady Gracenote in Thursday’s $100,000 Fickle Fanny Stakes at Aqueduct, handicappers will have to decide whether they fancy the fleet foot of the former or the late lick of the latter.

Of course, bettors could shun them both and go back to Uno Duo, who has burned a Brink’s truck worth of money in her last two restricted stakes starts.

This race shapes up similarly to the Pearl City Stakes over the main track Nov. 20, when Uno Duo finished third as the 1-5 favorite. In that race, Indian Splendor was part of a contested pace but had to settle for second behind the stalking Miss Mischief.

On Friday over the inner track, Indian Splendor figures to once again flash her early speed after breaking from the rail, but this time, her stablemate, Lady Gracenote, could be the beneficiary.

Lady Gracenote returns to the inner track, where last winter she won twice from four starts. She was overmatched when fourth in the Grade 2 Top Flight on March 2 over the inner track before getting a freshening, her first meaningful break in two years. She returned Oct. 18 in a turf race and finished seventh, beaten five lengths.

“Her inner-track form is pretty good,” Servis said. “She’s doing good, and I kind of like that turf-to-dirt angle.”

Over the last two years, Servis is 19 for 60 with turf-to-dirt runners, including Gem City Gal, who won here last Friday off a similar layoff as Lady Gracenote.

In her two sprint victories over the inner track, Lady Gracenote has rallied from last, so a fast early pace will be essential. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 3.

With Indian Splendor in the field, Servis said, “I know we’re going to go fast enough.”

Indian Splendor, ridden by Jose Ortiz, could get brave if able to avoid dueling with Carameaway or Uno Duo early.

Servis said he was “thrilled to death” with Indian Splendor’s second-place finish in the Pearl City. He hopes she takes to the inner track in her debut on that surface.

“Some horses like it, some don’t,” Servis said. “I’m thinking she’s the kind of filly that will like it.”

Perhaps a change of surface will do Uno Duo some good. She won nicely against a weak field at Saratoga in July but then bombed as the favorite in stakes at Belmont and over Aqueduct’s main track. Her outside post should give Junior Alvarado options for how to ride Uno Duo, who blew out a swift three furlongs in 35.80 seconds Dec. 3

Run a Dubb Dubb makes the 22nd start of her 3-year-old season in this spot.