Breaking the Rules enters Gio Ponti at top of his game

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A change of surface and change of equipment seem to have Breaking the Rules headed in the right direction. Just how far will be determined Friday when Breaking the Rules seeks his first stakes win in a highly competitive running of the $150,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s outer turf course.

Ten horses were entered in the Gio Ponti, including three designated to run only if the race is transferred to the main track. Trainer Shug McGaughey said Breaking the Rules will run regardless of surface as he already has won on both turf and dirt.

Breaking the Rules, a son of War Front, is coming off a visually impressive second-level allowance win on turf at Belmont on Oct. 6. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Breaking the Rules stalked the pace from the inside, tipped three wide turning for home, and drew away.

That was his second race on turf and second in blinkers.

“I think the blinkers helped keeping him focused,” McGaughey said. “His last two works have been excellent. Looking forward to running him.”

Christophe Clement, who trained the multiple Grade 1 winner Gio Ponti, is looking forward to sending out Therapist in this spot. A New York-bred son of Freud, Therapist is a two-time open-company stakes winner. He is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes, where he had a wide trip under John Velazquez.

“If it’s not soft, he’s going to run a good race,” said Clement, who has David Cohen to ride.

Rose’s Vision won the Better Talk Now Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga but hasn’t run since. He was entered in the Oct. 27 English Channel Stakes at Belmont, but the races were canceled and Rose’s Vision went back to Woodbine.

Though he came from off the pace in the Better Talk Now, Rose’s Vision might be better served by being up close, as he was when he won at Keeneland in April.

“He’s pretty versatile,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “He can do whatever you need him to do.”

Prioritize, third in the Better Talk Now, is more of a one-run horse, trainer James Bond said, and would benefit from some pace.

Zap Daddy, Medal of Honour, and Mr Ritz complete the field on turf. Roaming Union, Bal Harbour, and Life’s a Parlay are all main-track-only entrants who were entered back in Saturday’s Grade 3 Discovery Stakes.

La Moneda seeks new streak

La Moneda had a four-race winning streak snapped when she finished second in the Ticonderoga Stakes for New York-breds on Oct. 20 at Belmont Park.

La Moneda will attempt to start a new streak when she meets nine opponents in Friday’s $150,000 Forever Together Stakes, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the outer turf course.

La Moneda won four races from June 9 through Aug. 24, capped by a neck victory in the Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga. She had a two-month freshening before losing by a length to Fifty Five in the Ticonderoga.

“We gave her a bit of a freshening, and I’m not sure she didn’t move forward for that race,” trainer Tom Morley said. “I was a little concerned last time about the ground, but she handled it. She’s definitely better on firm ground, but we’re not going to get that this time of year, so we’ll roll the dice.”

Bellavais came off a layoff of almost a year to win a high-class allowance race at Belmont on Oct. 24 in her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher. She will stretch out a half-furlong for this race, and will have Javier Castellano returning to ride.

“I don’t think stretching her out a little bit is going to be a problem,” Pletcher said. “I was a little concerned she might be a little sharp off the layoff, but Javier was able to tuck her in and get her covered up a bit, which allowed her to produce a good kick. Hopefully, he can do the same here again.”

Dolce Lili, Penjade, Lady Joan, and Lift Up are other contenders on turf.

Surge of Pride tops Key Cents

After finishing a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Tempted, Surge of Pride returns to New York-bred company and shortens up to six furlongs in Friday’s $100,000 Key Cents Stakes for juvenile fillies.

A field of 13 was entered, though the race will be limited to 12 starters.

Surge of Pride is 2 for 2 against New York-breds and 0 for 2 in open company. She has won sprinting on turf and going a one-turn mile in the Maid of the Mist, where she beat four of the horses entered against her in this spot.

Trainer Linda Rice said shortening Surge of Pride back to six furlongs might be better for the daughter of Kantharos, who pressed the pace in the Tempted and was beaten 12 lengths by Oxy Lady.

“It might be easier for her to sit off of it,” Rice said.

There appears to be ample pace in the Key Cents, including the Rice-trained Sassy Agnes, who won the Lady Finger Stakes and the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes at Finger Lakes in her two most recent starts.

Take Me to Hardoon, who beat statebred maidens at Saratoga on Sept. 2, returns to statebred company after finishing 25 lengths behind Jaywalk when running last in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont on Oct. 7.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs