Distance is a question mark for Lassofthemohicans
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Racing officials and horseplayers are always happy to see a fresh face show up at Aqueduct in the winter. Lassofthemohicans returns from a six-month freshening in Thursday’s $67,000 first-level allowance feature for fillies and mares going six furlongs over the inner track.
Lassofthemohicans, a daughter of Indian Charlie, may be only 1 for 9, but she certainly has kept solid company running in Kentucky and south Florida throughout her career.
Owners Adam Wachtel and Nils Brous purchased majority interest in the filly after her third start, a second-place finish behind Birdatthewire in a maiden race at Churchill Downs in November 2014.
Lassofthemohicans, then trained by Brendan Walsh, won a one-turn mile maiden race nearly a year ago at Gulfstream Park before finishing fifth to Birdatthewire in the Grade 2 Forward Gal in January.
The rest of the spring didn’t go well for Lassofthemohicans, and she was given the summer off at Fair Hill, where she breezed five times in October before being moved to trainer Bill Mott, for whom she shows four works at Belmont.
“She’s been working good,” said Leanna Willaford, New York-based assistant to Mott. “She physically looks good and is ready to run.”
The big question is whether six furlongs may be too short for Lassofthemohicans, who has yet to run shorter than 6 1/2 furlongs. She will break from post 6 under Junior Alvarado.
Stormy Sky, a two-time winner at six furlongs, looks to be among the major contenders along with Mrs. Hudson and Scat Away.
KEY CONTENDERS
Lassofthemohicans (Last 3 Beyers: 67-65-79)
◗ She holds a class edge over this group, having run in three graded stakes earlier this year, including her second in the Forward Gal.
◗ Distance is a question, though she has enough tactical speed to be forwardly placed in a field that does not seem to include much early foot.
◗ In her most recent start, on June 18, she was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Heart’s Song, who came back to win a stakes at Indiana Grand.
Stormy Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 75-60-51)
◗ She overcame a wide trip to win a starter allowance sprinting over the main track on Nov. 27 and wheels back in two weeks.
◗ She likely will sit back and make one run.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Stormy Sky. Trainer George Weaver is 21-7-5-3 with a $3.06 ROI over the past five years with last-out winners on the Aqueduct inner dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Mrs. Hudson (Last 3 Beyers: 63-80-68)
◗ Two starts back, her last time on a fast track, she finished fifth, beaten only three lengths at this condition. The first- and third-place finishers both came back to win their next start and have combined to win five straight races.
◗ She adds blinkers after a sixth-place finish in the slop last out.