Battle Bling tries to run win streak to three in Turnback the Alarm
Battle Bling might get an ideal setup when she bids for her third straight win Friday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap on opening day of the fall meet at Aqueduct.
The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares goes as the ninth on a 10-race card. The field of seven includes First to Act and Hybrid Eclipse, who finished second and third to leading Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Nest in last month’s Grade 2 Beldame at Aqueduct, and Exotic West and Nostalgic, who both won stakes at Aqueduct in April.
Battle Bling has tactical speed, and from post 7 she could get an ideal stalking trip behind W W Fitzy, Coach, First to Act, and Hybrid Eclipse. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount on Battle Bling for trainer Rob Atras.
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“If the pace is not real quick, she can sit close and she can also close,” Atras said. “She’s pretty versatile in that way. She should get a clean trip from the outside post. We’ll kind of leave it up to Kendrick where he wants to place her.”
Battle Bling’s last two starts have come at 1 1/16 miles. She captured the $99,000 Twixt at Laurel Park in her most recent out Oct. 1. Before that race, Battle Bling won the $100,000 Hidden Figures, an overnight handicap at a one-turn configuration at Colonial Downs. Battle Bling was with the pace in both of those races, but in January closed from next to last to win the 1 1/8-mile Ladies at Aqueduct.
“I don’t know if she wants [a mile and an eighth],” Atras said. “She definitely can handle it. She’s won at a mile and an eighth and she’s won at Aqueduct, and those are two pretty important factors for me going into the race.”
Battle Bling is a 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver who races for Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stables.
“She’s been ultra-consistent,” Atras said. “She came out of her last race well, as she always seems to do. She’s trained forwardly and we’re hoping for another big effort from her.”
Later in the week, Atras will be active at the Breeders’ Cup, saddling Law Professor in the Dirt Mile on Saturday at Keeneland.
The stakes winner Coach enters the Turnback the Alarm off a runner-up finish in the Twixt. It was her first start since February and she has reason to move forward in her second race back. Eric Cancel has the mount for owner Kueber Racing and trainer Brad Cox.
First to Act appears to be a promising sort for owner Andrew Rosen and trainer Shug McGaughey. She won a maiden special weight in April at Aqueduct and comes off back-to-back seconds in the Summer Colony at Saratoga and the Beldame. First to Act is by Curlin and out of the Grade 3-winning mare First Passage, who has produced a Grade 3 winner in Berned.
Exotic West won the Top Flight Invitational at 1 1/8 miles last spring at Aqueduct. Nostalgic won at the same distance at the track in the Grade 3 Gazelle.
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