Clean trip can put Seven Lillies over the top in rematch
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Yankee Division and Seven Lillies, separated by a head in a second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming race here on Dec. 17, are set to line up again in the same condition at the same one-mile distance Friday at Aqueduct.
Seven Lillies is winless in nine tries going a mile, but his head defeat to Yankee Division here last month was his best race thus far at the distance. Rob Atras, the trainer of Seven Lillies, felt his gelding was compromised by trying to rally inside of Yankee Division, ultimately having to alter course inside the eighth pole before re-rallying late.
“I thought maybe if he had more of an outside trip where he could have made a little bit of an earlier move he might have won that day,” said Atras, whose eight wins have him tied atop the standings with Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of Yankee Division. “He was kind of trapped on the inside then we had to alter course down the lane. I was more impressed in general with the way he handled the mile stretch out. He had run a mile before but never really showed that he wanted a mile.”
Seven Lillies will have to work out a trip from the rail under Dylan Davis. Seven Lillies is part of a same-owner (Windylea Farm) entry along with Jemography, trained by Mark Hennig. Since Davis is named on both horses, only one may run and Atras said Seven Lillies is the intended starter.
Yankee Division won this condition twice in 2021, both times going a mile at Aqueduct. In February, he was a 6 1/4-length front-running winner. Last out, when offered for the claiming price, Yankee Division sparred on the pace with Thorny Tale, before putting that one away and holding off Seven Lillies.
Yankee Division is drawn on the outside with Trevor McCarthy aboard.
Yankee Division is coupled in the wagering with Bad Guy, who won an off-the-turf, first-level statebred allowance before running third last month in a statebred $25,000 claimer.
Prince of Pharoahs, a well-beaten third behind Yankee Division and Seven Lillies, is back in this field.
The newcomer to this condition is Water’s Edge, a 4-year-old son of Candy Ride who is coming off a 3 1/4-length win in a first-level condition here on Nov. 28. That race came after he was twice beaten as an odds-on favorite.
While Water’s Edge gave the appearance of a statebred stakes-level horse when he won his maiden in the summer at Belmont Park, trainer David Donk said the horse needs more experience. He has only made five starts.
“I’m going to capitalize on the conditions and the money,” said Donk, noting the purse of this race is $74,000. “He’s not quite stakes-caliber yet. There are decent horses in the division. He needs to get a little more battle-tested.”
Jorge Vargas Jr., aboard for the allowance win on Nov. 28, is back aboard Water’s Edge, breaking one slot inside of Yankee Division.
Blewitt, likely the main speed, is on the class rise in this spot. No Salt took advantage of a wicked pace to win his first-level condition last out.