Atlantic's Smile escapes her nemesis

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thursday’s feature at Aqueduct is an open-company second-level allowance for female sprinters, but as was the case six weeks ago when this kind of race was run, the strength of the field lies with the New York-breds.

Four of the seven entered in the $69,000 race at six furlongs are New York-breds, including the Charlton Baker-trained duo of Atlantic’s Smile and Make the Moment, who will run as separate betting interests. Hot Rendezvous and Pennymine are also statebred runners in with a chance.

On Jan. 29, Isabelle led a 1-2-3-5 finish for New York-breds in this same condition. Atlantic’s Smile finished second, while Make the Moment finished fifth. Atlantic’s Smile and Make the Moment came back to run second and third to Isabelle in the Broadway Stakes on Feb. 14, Isabelle’s third straight victory. Isabelle is expected to start in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes here.

There are nine races scheduled for Thursday’s card, with first post slated for 1:20 p.m. Eastern. There is a $23,870 pick six carryover beginning with race 4 (2:48 p.m.).

KEY CONTENDERS

Atlantic’s Smile (Last 3 Beyers: 84-85-91)

◗ After finishing second two straight times to the multiple stakes winner Isabelle, Atlantic’s Smile avoids that rival by running here rather than Saturday’s Correction Stakes.

◗ She breaks from the outside post and gets a rider switch to Manuel Franco from Ruben Silvera. She may only have to outfoot Frivolity to secure the early lead.

“I think she’s a little bit quicker” than Frivolity, Baker said.

◗ Three starts back, she galloped to a 5 3/4-length first-level allowance win against open company.

Frivolity (Last 3 Beyers: 86-89-82)

◗ She won this condition two back – beating Make the Moment – when offered for the optional-claiming price of $62,500, as she is today. It was her only start over the inner track.

◗ Last out at Laurel, she finished second to She’s Ordained, who was winning for the 15th time in 39 career starts.

“That horse just got away from us,” trainer David Jacobson said.

Hot Rendezvous (Last 3 Beyers: 67-70-70)

◗ A five-time winner, she has been off form of late but turns back to a sprint for the first time since last March, when she finished second to La Verdad in the Broadway Stakes. Before that, she had won her previous two sprints over the inner track.

◗ She gets leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

Make the Moment (Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-83)

◗ She is winless in her last 10 starts but has four in-the-money finishes in that span.

◗ She finished a neck behind Atlantic’s Smile when third in the Broadway last out.