Deed I Do fresh and ready

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Deed I Do, stakes-placed at 2 and 3, has spent more time in her Belmont Park barn than at the races this year, but she could be ready to fire big on Thursday at Aqueduct.

Deed I Do, a 4-year-old who showed promise in her first two seasons on the track, makes only her third start of the year in a seven-furlong allowance race, which drew five fillies and mares. The sixth race, the feature on the nine-race card, carries a $54,000 purse.

Deed I Do should benefit from her last effort, a five-furlong grass stakes at The Meadowlands on Oct. 20. She finished seventh, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths, in her first start since July and initial race on the turf. In the July race, her first since September 2000, Deed I Do finished a good third behind Cat Cay and Imadeed after stumbling at the break.

Trainer Phil Serpe had planned on Deed I Do's 2001 season getting under way earlier, but that plan was foiled when the filly had to be scratched from a short field on April 20 at Aqueduct after she kicked the wall of her stall the morning of the race.

Deed I Do, who drew post 4, will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

The horse to beat could be Case of the Blues, who enters off a win in the six-furlong Maryland Million Distaff last month at Pimlico. Trained by Tony Dutrow, the ultra-consistent Case of the Blues, who is effective sprinting as well as at two turns, has earned nearly $400,000 in 21 starts for Skeedattle Stable.

John Velazquez rides Case of the Blues, a closer who would benefit from a hot pace, which she might not get here. Case of the Blues drew post 2.

Lucky Paws is a tough competitior from New England, who hasn't been worse than fourth in eight starts this year. Lucky Paws, a 6-year-old mare, raced at Aqueduct earlier in her career and won all three of her starts here.

Norberto Arroyo Jr. rides Lucky Paws for trainer Lori Lockhart.

Lily's Affair makes her 13th start of the year. In the spring, she wired the Primonetta field at Pimlico and then lost her next seven races before winning a $75,000 optional claimer at Delaware Park on Sept. 22.

Rosie Dooley, who hasn't visited the winner's circle in more than a year, completes the field.

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