Busanda return spot for Alto Belle, weather permitting
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Those who saw Alto Belle win a maiden race by 18 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct on Nov. 20 probably have wondered where the filly has been for the last two months.
Though Alto Belle finally showed up in the entries for Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct, those wanting to see her run again likely will have to wait a little longer. A winter storm predicted to bring snow and strong, gusty winds to the area Saturday likely will force racing officials to cancel the nine-race card and postpone the Busanda until next week.
Whenever it’s run, the mile-and-70-yard Busanda will provide Alto Belle with her first test against winners and her first around two turns. In her maiden win, going a one-turn mile, Alto Belle took control soon after the break and, with hardly any encouragement from John Velazquez, widened her advantage at every pole.
Though her pedigree suggests distance – she is by Trappe Shot, a graded-stakes-winning sprinter, and out of the one-mile stakes-winning mare Katy Now – a mile and 70 yards should be within her scope.
“I think she wants more ground and should appreciate two turns,” trainer Todd Pletcher said not long after Alto Belle’s maiden score.
Pletcher has enjoyed uncanny success in the Busanda, winning four of the last five runnings, including the last three. In 2013, Princess of Sylmar won this race – two starts after a 19-length maiden win at Penn National – on her way to winning the Kentucky Oaks.
Alto Belle’s main competition figures to come from Flora Dora, whose lone win came in the My Dear Girl Stakes at Gulfstream, and Scatoosh, a maiden winner at 1 1/16 miles last out.
The top four finishers in the Busanda earn qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to the May 6 Kentucky Oaks. The Busanda is scheduled to go as race 3.
KEY CONTENDERS
Alto Belle (last 3 Beyers: 74-62-61)
◗ That she has not raced since Nov. 20 is not by design, Pletcher said recently.
“We entered in an allowance race, and it didn’t go,” he said. “We planned to bridge the gap with a one-other-than. She ran well last time, had a couple of solid breezes under her belt. The time off won’t hurt her.”
◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 5.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Alto Belle. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 21-7-4-4 with a $2.93 ROI over the past five years on the Aqueduct inner dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Flora Dora (Last 3 Beyers: 66-75-61)
◗ Won the My Dear Girl around two turns and came back with a solid second in the Grade 3 Tempted going a one-turn mile over Aqueduct’s main track.
◗ She was kept in reserve off a slow pace in the Grade 2 Demoiselle last out, finishing fourth, beaten three lengths.
◗ Gets a rider change from Kendrick Carmouche to Jose Ortiz.
“I don’t think pace is going to be a factor because I thought she should have been part of the pace a little bit more than she was last time,” said Marialice Coffey, who trains Flora Dora.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Flora Dora. Trainer Marialice Coffey is 123-3-11-16 with a $0.44 ROI over the past five years on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Scatoosh (Last 3 Beyers: 66-72-70)
◗ Ended a streak of three straight second-place finishes with a 4 1/2-length maiden score over the inner track Jan. 1.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Scatoosh. Trainer Leah Gyarmati is 26-7-0-9 with a $4.73 ROI over the past five years on dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Dreams to Reality. Trainer Michael Dilger is 18-8-3-1 with a $9.14 ROI over the past five years on dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan