Aqueduct: Ullapool proves she's not one-track filly by taking Garland of Roses

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Ullapool had no problem transferring her Belmont Park form eight miles west, taking control of Saturday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses a few strides out of the gate and cruising to a two-length victory over a muddy Aqueduct main track.

Delightful Quality continues to do what she does best, finishing second for the seventh time in 11 starts, this time by three-quarters of a length over Baby J. Miss Mischief, My Wandy’s Girl, and Crespano completed the order of finish. Conkate was scratched.

The win was sixth from 13 career starts for Ullapool, but her first away from Belmont where she is 5 for 6.

Leonard Dunne, the assistant to trainer and part-owner Eddie Kenneally, wasn’t as much concerned with the change of venue as he was the muddy main track, which had been sealed for the first six races. But when it was harrowed before the seventh race - one race before the Garland of Roses - Dunne felt better.

“I got a little more confident because I thought it would be a little faster, which it was a little faster, so it actually worked out perfectly for us,” Dunne said.

Ullapool, under Irad Ortiz Jr., bumped with Miss Mischief, before opening a 1 1/2-length lead by herself after a quarter run in 22.36 seconds. She maintained a clear advantage through a half-mile in 46.14 and covered six furlongs in 1:11.03. She returned $5 as the 3-2 favorite.

“They give me instructions to try and put her on the lead. I just put her on the lead. My horse just relaxed pretty good. She picked it up by herself at the quarter pole and I was just a passenger,” said Ortiz, who capped a three-win day with this victory.

Ullapool had been off for 13 months due to an illness before winning an allowance race at Belmont on Oct. 17. She was entered right back in a stakes at Aqueduct in early November, but scratched after getting sick again.

“This came up a little tougher but the plan worked out good,” Dunne said.

As a Florida-bred, Ullapool is eligible for the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint at Gulfstream on Jan. 18. Dunne said he would lobby Kenneally to keep her in New York for races like the Interborough on Jan. 1 and/or Correction on Feb. 1. Both $100,000 races are run at six furlongs over the inner track.

“She’s a Florida-bred, but she’s a New York girl,” Dunne said.