Danilovna's late kick dangerous in Winter Memories

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Friday’s inaugural running of the $125,000 Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct looks like it sets up for a closer, and there is no shortage of viable options from which to choose in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Danilovna, My Impression, Noble Beauty, and Grey Stark all bring solid credentials to the Winter Memories, the final turf stakes of the year on this circuit.

Danilovna, trained by Graham Motion, won her U.S. debut at Belmont in September, flashing an eye-catching late kick to win by a neck. She then shipped to Southern California and was beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite by 30-1 shot Cover Song in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita. Danilovna and Cover Song exchanged bumps in the stretch and an objection was lodged, but the Santa Anita stewards deemed that it was Danilovna who initiated the contact and did not make a change.

Danilovna, who has broken slowly from the rail in each of her U.S. starts, breaks from post 6 in this field of 11. Trevor McCarthy is named to ride.

My Impression and Noble Beauty ran 1-2 in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel on Sept. 24. In that race, the two were well off the pace early, but My Impression got the jump on Noble Beauty and won by 3 1/4 lengths.

My Impression came back and ran third in the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. She was second early in that race under Jose Ortiz.

“I thought she laid up too close in Lexington,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “We’ll get her back on Friday. There’s some speed in there.”

Prior to the start of the Commonwealth Oaks, Noble Beauty popped open her stall door but did not run off. She did show grit in beating stablemate Pricedtoperfection by a head for second.

“The filly put in a nice run despite all of that,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Still, you can’t help think it possibly kept her from running her best.”

Noble Beauty was cross-entered in Friday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs, but she is expected to run in New York, Brown said.

Brown also sends out Grey Stark in the Winter Memories. She overcame a slow pace to win a second-level allowance by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont on Oct. 28.

There are a number of early-speed types in this field, including Gianna’s Dream, Sassy Little Lila, and Kaola Queen.

The Winter Memories, named for the mare who won seven graded stakes and earned $1.2 million, is race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Danilovna, by Dansili

Beyers: 87-87

◗ Has shown solid late runs in both of her U.S. starts.

◗ Stretches back out from a mile to 1 1/16 miles, the distance of her allowance win at Belmont in September.

My Impression, by Sky Mesa

Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-62

◗ Finished third behind repeat winner Quidura in the Valley View. Her other two losses in six starts this year came to Grade 1 winner Time and Motion.

Noble Beauty, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 86-80-83

◗ Has crossed the line second in four of her last five starts, though she was elevated to first in the Pucker Up at Arlington in August. Try Your Luck, who was disqualified from first in the Pucker Up, came back to win the Dueling Grounds Oaks by 7 1/2 lengths in her next start.

Grey Stark, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-85

◗ After getting beat a length going 1 1/2 miles in a Saratoga allowance, she came back to win the 1 1/16 mile allowance Oct. 28 at Belmont.