Aqueduct: A Story of Revenge stretches out for second start of comeback

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thursday’s feature at Aqueduct comes early, when some lightly raced fillies with potential clash in race 3, a second-level optional $50,000 claimer with a purse of $69,000.

There’s no mystery about tactics for Coco Ecolo, who drew the rail. She has led early in eight of her last nine starts for Kelly Breen, and looks to rebound after coming up short at 3-5.

A Story of Revenge drew right outside the probable pacesetter.

“If I was hand-picking a spot, that’s where I’d want to be,” said Mike Trombetta, who brought A Story of Revenge back from a layoff for a popular score over first-level allowance sprinters on Jan. 7 – her first start since a third in the Jostle Stakes last June.

After four sprints, A Story of Revenge tries two turns for the first time in Thursday’s one-mile race. A daughter of Tale of the Cat, A Story of Revenge is a half-sister to I Want Revenge, the 2009 Gotham and Wood Memorial winner.

A Story of Revenge came into her allowance win off three bullet workouts on dirt, and since then has fired two more bullets on Fair Hill’s synthetic surface.

“She had a few issues but is back on the right track, and I’m anxious to stretch her out,” said Trombetta. “I feel fortunate this race went and she gets a little more distance.”

One Last Dance made a successful transition from turf to dirt in mid-December for Dale Romans, posting a clear-cut allowance win at a mile and 70 yards. She was fourth in the Ladies Handicap just 16 days later. Coming off a 39-day break, she is drawn in post 3.

Breaking toward the outside are My Dreamy Mimi, whose bid to win three races in a row was snapped at 8-5 in her local bow for Rudy Rodriguez; and Indian Burn, who has lost 19 straight since taking the 2010 Ruthless here.

◗ Panthro, who shipped up from Florida for a maiden win at odds-on Jan. 14, will be a short price again in race 7, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old New York-breds.

Dr. Copper, First Verse, Ludo Bagman and Hooked On Dance also come off last-out wins. Dan’s Gold gets a switch back to Ryan Curatolo, who was aboard for a nine-length maiden victory two back.

◗ Six of the 12 older New York-breds in race 8 are eligible for the first-level allowance condition. The other six are in for the optional $14,000 tag, including the David Jacobson-trained entry of Ruffino and Most Happy Fella, who are the only ones to have won at the 1 1/8-mile distance, and who are right back after running second and third behind odds-on Lunar Victory in Saturday’s second race.

David Cohen is named on both, so only one can start.