Australia: Yankees adds blinkers for comeback race
There were two segments to the 2022 Australia campaign of the filly Yankees.
Yankees won her debut in a five-furlong maiden race in May, but was seventh in a field of 11 less than two weeks later in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs. By American Pharoah, Yankees raced once more in 2022, finishing last of nine in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs in November.
Yankees will have her 2023 debut in a five-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Wednesday. Her chances would seem dim were it not for her debut win last May and a first-place finish in a schooling race from the gate, or barrier trial, at five furlongs at Hawkesbury on May 22.
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The schooling race is the equivalent of a sharp workout and indicates that Yankees can be a factor in a field of 11 at Gosford. Yankees drew the rail and will be ridden by Tyler Schiller, who was aboard for the schooling race and is likely to have her prominent from the start.
Yankees will be fitted with blinkers for the first time, which should aid her chances to be near the front early.
Fourth Spargo, also a 3-year-old filly, will be favored. Trained by Gabrielle Ellis, Fourth Spargo won her debut in a five-furlong maiden race at Wyong Racecourse on Jan. 18 and was a troubled third of nine in a five-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury on May 18 in her only subsequent start
Fourth Spargo raced in traffic in the final sixteenth and was beaten slightly more than a length. Fourth Spargo is quick enough to be part of the pace.
Gosford has an eight-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Aside from Fourth Spargo and Yankees, there will be support for Chain of Gold, unraced since a win in a maiden race in his eighth career start in a seven-furlong race on Dec. 30.
Chain of Gold was second in his only previous start at five furlongs, in a maiden race at Hawkesbury in April 2022.
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