Canceled allowance races brought back
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A trio of allowance races, previously carded over two programs canceled due to extreme cold conditions last week, highlight Friday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct where temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s.
Race 3, a third-level allowance/optional $80,000 claimer for females going seven furlongs, returns six of its original seven entrants, including Piece of My Heart and Self Isolation. Honey Money was not entered back. She is nominated to Sunday’s $100,000 Broadway Stakes for New York-breds.
Piece of My Heart, coming off a second-place finish to stablemate Betsy Blue in the Interborough Stakes on Jan. 21, has a win and four seconds in her last five starts. Trainer Linda Rice thought about the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park for Piece of My Heart, but acknowledged that being able to run on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix played a part in running in this spot. Horses are not eligible to race on Lasix in stakes races in New York or graded stakes in Maryland.
“I don’t think her numbers without Lasix are going to be the same as they are with Lasix,” Rice said. “I think that’s going to make a pretty strong difference for her.”
Kendrick Carmouche was originally named to ride Piece of My Heart, but he is sidelined with a hairline fracture of his right leg. Jose Lezcano had been named on Honey Money but now rides Piece of My Heart, whom he rode to victory in this same condition Jan. 5 when she was not in for the claiming tag, as she is Friday.
Last Nov. 11, Self Isolation beat Piece of My Heart by one length in this condition over a sealed, good racetrack. Her two races since, both stakes, were poor performances, but she gets back on Lasix on Friday for trainer David Jacobson.
Mosienko, third behind Fouette and Piece of My Heart, returns from a two-month layoff following a busy and productive 5-year-old campaign in which she won five races from 14 starts. Dennis Lalman trains the mare for his daughter Stacy.
Race 6, a second-level/optional $62,500 claimer originally scheduled for last Saturday, had its lineup change somewhat. Sheriff Bianco was entered in this six-furlong race last week. He ran second in a one-mile race on Sunday and is entered right back. Sheriff Bianco is trained by Rice, who also entered Big Engine, not among the original entrants.
Trainer Lynn Cash changed an entrant for this race, subbing Gagetown for Beverly Park. Gagetown ran fourth in an allowance last Saturday at Laurel.
Jacobson entered Heir Port and Cees Get Degrees, who both have a front-running style. The horse who possesses the most early speed in the race is Chateau.
A pace battle could set things up for Nova Rags, who twice finished second in this condition here in December.
Race 8 is a second-level statebred allowance/optional $45,000 claimer at six furlongs. Bold Journey comes out of a runner-up finish to the talented Today’s Flavor in this spot.
Scocciatore, who was not entered for this race originally, makes his first start in 10 months, or since he won an open first-level allowance going six furlongs in the slop.
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