BC bust Forest Music out to play new tune

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After a failed journey to California to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Forest Music finds a more suitable spot in Sunday's $100,000 Valley Stream at Aqueduct.

Nine 2-year-old fillies were entered in the six-furlong Valley Stream.

Forest Music won her career debut in impressive fashion at Laurel Park on Oct. 8. Forest Music, a daughter of Unbridled's Song, won the six-furlong race by 8 1/2 lengths and covered the distance in a snappy 1:08.40. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105 - the highest Beyer earned this year by a 2-year-old.

Forest Music's trainer, Mark Shuman, and owner, Michael Gill, were so pumped by their filly's first race that they ran her back in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita 17 days later. Forest Music set the pace for a half-mile before she retreated to the pack of the back and finished last, beaten 42 lengths.

"We asked her to do more than she was ready to," Shuman said. "We knew she had the talent, but she didn't have the seasoning. She came out of the race in great order and handled the trip mentally well. We think she can repeat her performance in her first race or do better."

Shuman puts blinkers on Forest Music, who he said was "looking around" a bit in her first start.

Edgar Prado rides Forest Music, who drew the outside - a tough post for a filly with speed.

After winning her first two starts, Smokey Glacken finished third in the slop in the Grade 2 Astarita at Belmont on Oct. 12. Smokey Glacken owned a short lead in the stretch of the 6 1/2-furlong Astarita, but got leg weary in the final yards.

"She ran good, but hung a little bit," said Jimmy Jerkens, Smokey Glacken's trainer. "She drifted down in the deeper going [on the rail] and I think it took its toll."

Jose Santos rides Smokey Glacken.

Hermione's Magic turned in a strong performance in her career debut at Belmont over the summer. She controlled the pace in the five-furlong race and won by six lengths. Hermione's Magic lost her next two starts, in stakes run over sloppy tracks. In her last race, she finished fourth as the favorite in an allowance race.

Trainer Todd Pletcher puts blinkers on Hermione's Magic, who will be ridden by John Velazquez.

"We need something to pick her head up," Pletcher said.

Stoic comes off a good-looking win in a first-level allowance here Oct. 31.