Autumn Glory goes for two in a row on short rest

Autumn Glory was coming off a 461-day layoff when she split rivals late and got up to win a New York-bred first-level allowance on turf on Oct. 26 at Aqueduct.

Thursday, Autumn Glory will be wheeling back in two weeks when she tries to clear the next condition in a New York-bred second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on turf that constitutes the feature on the nine-race program.

Trainer Christophe Clement wanted to get another race into Autumn Glory before the turf season on this circuit ends Nov. 18. In her comeback race, she was well rated in seventh by Dylan Davis, tipped five wide in the lane, and seemed motivated when Linarite came to her outside. That horse may have helped carry Autumn Glory to her head victory over Linarite.

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“She ran well, very professional, showed a good turn off foot,” Clement said. “She came out of the race in very good order.”

That race was at six furlongs. Thursday’s race is at 1 1/16 miles, the distance at which Autumn Glory won her career debut back at Aqueduct in December 2021.

Clement said this would be the last opportunity for Autumn Glory to run at the 1 1/16-mile distance in this condition.

Davis rides Autumn Glory from post 6 in a field that drew eight turf runners and two main-track only entrants.

Clement also sends out Waterville, who was fourth as the favorite in this condition going a mile Oct. 13. In that race, Waterville was parked wide on both turns and tried to rally into contention but had too much left to do. She was beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

“A mile and a sixteenth is a better distance for her,” Clement said. “She’s a little bit one paced but she’s honest. She tries hard every time.”

Golden Rocket and Masterof the Tunes, second and third, respectively, in that race, are back in this spot.

Snowy Evening finished a head behind Waterville in a first-level allowance race Sept. 4 at Saratoga. Snowy Evening, owned in part by former Daily Racing Form publisher Steven Crist, came back to clear the first-level allowance condition on Oct. 27.

Masterof the Tunes, who set the pace in that Oct. 13 race, once again looms as the primary speed here Thursday.

Dream Central, Mia Bea Star, and Home for Christmas complete the field on turf.

Sweetest Princess and Carbon could draw into the race only if it is moved to the main track.

Big Invasion to race in 2024

Big Invasion, a fast-closing second in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, will return for a 5-year-old season in 2024, Clement said.

Big Invasion was ninth of 12 after the opening half-mile, had to wait for room in upper stretch, found some at the eighth pole, and came with a flying finish, only to settle for second behind Nobals.

“Horse ran a superb race, not the best racing luck,” Clement said. “He’s on his way to Florida [on Tuesday] and will come back at 5. He’s one of the best turf sprinters in the country.”

Big Invasion is 8 for 15 with seven stakes wins.

Meanwhile, Clement plans to be active in the final few turf stakes of the Aqueduct meet.

This weekend, Clement plans to run Soldier Rising in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith Stakes, Big Everest in Sunday’s Artie Schiller Stakes, and as many as three horses from among Amazing Grace, Atomic Blonde, Avenue Niel, and Evidencias in Sunday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island Stakes.

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