Carrumba fresh for Top Flight Invitational

Carrumba kicks off her 4-year-old season where her 3-year-old campaign ended when she returns from a 127-day layoff in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Top Flight Invitational Handicap at Aqueduct.

Carrumba, a daughter of Bernardini owned and bred by the Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey, hasn’t run since Nov. 28, when she was defeated a head by Forever Unbridled in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles over the main track. Those two fillies staged a terrific stretch duel from the three-sixteenths pole home. In her only start since the Comely, Forever Unbridled came back to win the Houston Ladies Classic.

“I thought that filly was a nice filly going in, and she had much more experience than we did,” McGaughey said.

McGaughey also said that circumstances made Jose Ortiz move a little earlier than he wanted in the Comely. Ortiz will ride Carrumba again Sunday from post 3.

Carrumba came to south Florida shortly after the Comely and was given a freshening. McGaughey wasn’t necessarily looking to run the filly 1 1/8 miles in her first start off the layoff, but there were limited options.

Carrumba will take on six rivals in the Top Flight. They includes Mei Ling, the winner of the Heavenly Prize Stakes over the inner track March 5, and America, who won the Turnback the Alarm Handicap last Oct. 30 at Belmont.

The Top Flight goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Carrumba, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 94-84-99

◗ Prior to the narrow loss in the Comely, she had won three consecutive races, a streak that began in a 1 1/8-mile race at Saratoga.

◗ Carrumba has had five breezes over the deep surface at Payson Park.

“She’s training awfully well,” said McGaughey, who noted that he had Carrumba gallop out a little farther in her works in preparation for the 1 1/8 miles. “We think she has a chance to be a pretty good filly.”

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, McGaughey is 6 for 26 with a $2.29 ROI when bringing horses back off a layoff of 60 to 180 days in races beyond one mile.

Mei Ling, by Empire Maker

Last 3 Beyers: 94-79-88

◗ With blinkers added and while racing over an inside-speed-favoring inner track, she galloped to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Heavenly Prize.

◗ In addition to the blinker change, trainer Todd Pletcher backed off a little in Mei Ling’s training.

“She’ll overachieve if you allow her to in the morning,” Pletcher said.

◗ Mei Ling likely will be the main speed in the Top Flight.

◗ John Velazquez, aboard for a nine-furlong allowance win at Saratoga last summer, is back aboard for the first time since then.

Joint Return, by Include

Last 3 Beyers: 85-78-62

◗ Finished four lengths in front of Mei Ling when second to Pangburn in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel on Feb. 13.

◗ While she is winless in 10 graded stakes, she did finish second in the Grade 1 Alabama and second in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks in her 3-year-old season.

◗ Finished fourth to House Rules in this race last year.