Chiara Luna looks ready to fire fresh

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Chipolata may be the more highly regarded of trainer Christophe Clement’s pair of female runners in Thursday’s second-level allowance feature at Aqueduct, but Chiara Luna may be better prepared to win off the layoff.

Chipolata finished third in last summer’s Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, arriving less than a week before the race and running extremely well to be beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by Athena. Given the summer off by Clement, Chipolata returned in the Zagora Stakes last October where she finished fifth of seven as the 8-5 favorite. Though Belmont Park’s turf course was very soft that day, Clement is not sure that was the reason for the poor performance.

“I thought she just ran disappointingly,” said Clement, who also wasn’t sure the 1 1/2-mile distance was right for the filly.

Clement’s concern regarding Chipolata on Thursday is the filly’s tendency to become anxious.

“I’m a little worried shipping her from Belmont to Aqueduct,” Clement said. “She will have no problem to handle the mile and an eighth.”

Chipolata also may be compromised by a lack of pace in this race. It’s a void that Clement thinks Chiara Luna may be able to fill. Chiara Luna is coming off a neck loss in a second-level allowance on Dec. 30 at Tampa when she came from off the pace.

“I may try to send her,” Clement said. “She’s training well, I’m trying her a mile and an eighth for the first time, but she has plenty of stamina.”

Chipolata and Chiara Luna did work together on March 31 at Payson Park, both being timed in 1:02.80 for five furlongs.

Tanya’s Gem, who figures to be a longshot in this race, may be the pacesetter and Chiara Luna could stalk her.

Violet Blue, who was competing in marathon turf stakes most of last year, makes her 5-year-old debut in this spot. War Cabinet, who overcame a slow pace to win an allowance race in February at Gulfstream, and Blue Union Rags complete the compact field.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Chiara Luna, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-58

◗ Improved her speed figures in each of her three starts last fall/winter and has been “training forwardly,” according to Clement.

◗ Overcame a little traffic to win a first-level allowance last November at Gulfstream Park West.

Chipolata, by Muhtathir
Beyers: 91-72

◗ Disappointed in Zagora Stakes last fall at Belmont, a race run over soft ground, and has been freshened since.

◗ Clement thought the Zagora, at 1 1/2 miles, may have been too far for this 4-year-old French-bred filly.

War Cabinet, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 85-79-37

◗ Has run well from off the pace in two starts at Gulfstream during the winter, including a three-quarter-length victory over Giant Zinger in a first-level allowance.

◗ Giant Zinger came back to run third, beaten less than a length, in the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes with a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure.