Blowout needs better luck in Memories of Silver

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Blowout just missed pulling off a rare 13-1 upset for trainer Chad Brown in last month’s Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. She won’t be anywhere near that price Friday when she meets four rivals in the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct.

Blowout, a daughter of Dansili owned by Peter Brant, got stuck behind horses turning for home in the Florida Oaks. When jockey Jose Ortiz got her in the clear, Blowout came with a strong late run, but missed by a half-length to Concrete Rose, who improved her record to 3 for 4 with two graded stakes victories.

Brown said Blowout had to wait “at a bad point in time.”

“She was almost out to a clear run where she does her best running, and had to pause there,” he said.

In her debut victory, Blowout was a bit headstrong early on before settling and making a run and getting up by a head.

“She grabs the bit pretty good, but she’s manageable,” Brown said. “She might have a touch of a light mouth.”

Javier Castellano will ride Blowout from post 2.

Brown will also send out La Feve, a French-bred filly who finished third in the Sweetest Chant on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream and was fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Florida Oaks.

In the Florida Oaks, Brown said La Feve “was just so committed to the inside she needed something to open up and it never did.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides La Feve from post 3.

There is no speed in the Memories of Silver. Her Royal Highness, Feel Glorious, and Aunt Hattie complete the field.

There are three horses entered to run if the race is moved to dirt, and while rain is in the forecast it is not expected until late in the day.

The Memories of Silver goes as race 3 (2:30 p.m. Eastern).

KEY CONTENDERS

Blowout by Dansili
Beyers:79-64

◗ Has broken alertly in both of her starts and could find herself on the lead by default

La Feve, by George Vancouver
Beyers: 78-77

◗ Has had a little trouble in both of her starts, which came in large fields.

◗ Was third to the multiple stakes winner A Bit Special in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant.

Aunt Hattie, by Camelot
Last 3 Beyers: 72-73-74

◗ Came back on when passed in deep stretch to win a first-level allowance at Tampa last month.

“She’s not what you’d call easy to ride,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We changed tactics a little bit, letting her settle a little longer and making a run. A couple of races at Gulfstream, she didn’t finish as well when she was put up on the pace.”

◗ Junior Alvarado, aboard for Aunt Hattie’s victory here last Nov. 3 here, is reunited with the filly.