Dill or No Dill wires Ruthless

Owner Steve Sigler and trainer Gary Contessa purchased Dill or No Dill privately last fall partly with Aqueduct's inner track in mind. But the duo thought they'd have nothing to lose trying her in the Grade 1 Frizette first.

After setting a rapid pace in that Oct. 6 race, Dill or Dill folded up and finished seventh, beaten 36 1/4 lengths.

"I fried her brain running her in the Frizette - that was a big mistake," Contessa said. "It took me a long time to get her speed back."

Dill or No Dill's speed was intact at Aqueduct as she led gate to wire to win the $81,975 Ruthless Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths. Carolyn's Cat finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Home Crowd.

Under Ramon Dominguez, Dill or No Dill set fractions of 22.18 seconds, 45.27, and 57.84, and covered six furlongs in 1:10.91. She returned $6.20 as the slight favorite over Carolyn's Cat.

It was the third win from six starts for Dill or No Dill, a daughter of Evansville Slew who had won the Clevor Trevor Stakes at Remington Park when trained by Joe Petalino.