Bubble Rock gets back to softer, familiar foes in Floral Park
?q=100)
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Brad Cox had some mixed emotions when he saw the entries for Saturday’s $125,000 Floral Park Stakes at Aqueduct.
Cox wasn’t thrilled with the fact his filly Bubble Rock drew the rail but he was excited not to see Roses for Debra in the six-furlong turf race.
In her last two starts, Bubble Rock has been defeated by Roses for Debra, a filly who is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
In the Grade 3 Caress and Smart n Fancy, Cox said Bubble Rock “has run her race, she’s just been defeated by a very, very good mare,” Cox said. “I’m glad she’s not in there to be honest.”
Bubble Rock has been very consistent this year but only has the one win, in the License Fee Stakes in May at Belmont, to show for it.
That win was at the Floral Park distance of six furlongs, a distance at which she has two wins and a nose loss to Poppy Flower in the Grade 3 Intercontinental. Her two races at Saratoga were at 5 1/2 furlongs.
“I like the idea of running three-quarters more than 5 1/2. She can relax a little bit more,” Cox said.
Manny Franco rides Bubble Rock from the rail.
Breaking from the rail, Bubble Rock will likely have to show speed, but there are other front-end types in this field, including Shoshanah.
Can’t Buy Love, trained by Mike Trombetta, finished third in this race last year when, due to a lack of pace, she was too close to the lead.
“I think she likes a target to run at; with this field she’ll have one I’m sure,” Trombetta said.
This year, Can’t Buy Love has two seconds and two thirds from four starts. Most recently, Can’t Buy Love ran third, beaten three-quarters of a length by All That Magic in the Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth on Aug. 6.
Trombetta said weather, more than anything, has kept Can’t Buy Love from racing the last two months.
Poppy Flower, trained by Bill Mott, has traded decisions this year with Bubble Rock, finishing second to her in the License Fee before beating her by a nose in the Intercontinental. She finished a head behind Bubble Rock when fourth in the Grade 3 Caress.
Salvaje, purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale for $52,000, makes her first start for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias in this spot. Salvaje, who won three of seven starts when in the barn of Cherie DeVaux, will have blinkers on for the first time.
Scotish Star, Itsakeyper, and Risk Free round out the field on turf.
Bank On Anna and Royal Poppy are entered to run only if the race is moved to the main track.
In hopes of avoiding the wet weather forecast for Saturday, Floral Park is carded as race 4 on the 10-race program that begins at 12:35 p.m.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.