Dominguez has two more live ones

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Ramon Dominguez entered the second half of Aqueduct's brief spring meet comfortably ahead in the jockey standings, and is in good position to pad the lead when morning-line favorites Doremifasollatido and Persistently, the one-two finishers in the 2008 Matron Stakes, head Thursday's co-featured second-level allowance races.

Doremifasollatido, whose two-length win over Persistently in the Grade 2 Matron made her champion juvenile New York-bred filly, makes her seasonal debut for new trainer Tony Dutrow. Though she has not won in eight starts since the Matron, she is even-money against five other New York-bred fillies and mares in race 2, a $42,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.

Doremifasollatido had surgery for a chip in a front ankle following an off-the-board finish in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and was blanked from seven stakes starts last year at 3.

In preparing for the first allowance start of her career, Doremifasollatido worked a bullet five furlongs at Palm Meadows, and last Saturday worked another best-of-the-morning five furlongs on Aqueduct's main track.

Anjorie, Goodday, Motor City Mama, My Anguilla, and Not a Peep also entered.

Persistently is listed at 7-5 against five other fillies and mares in race 3, a $45,000 optional claimer at one mile.

The sky appeared the limit for the stretch-running Persistently two years ago after back-to-back seconds in the Matron and Frizette, and a belated rally for fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. A Phipps Stable homebred, Persistently was slow to come around last year, however, and raced only twice, including a fast-closing second at the Big A's fall meet to Life at Ten, who has since won two stakes.

In her 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park, Persistently won a first-level allowance by nearly seven lengths, and then rallied mildly for third behind the highly regarded Qualia in her last start, Feb. 14.

"Going a mile there, it's hard to catch up," said trainer Shug McGaughey. "She got bumped leaving the gate and got farther back than I wanted her."

Also entered were Classofsixtythree, Dana's Bell, McVictory, Lesly's Back, and Sister's Speed.

Classofsixtythree comes off a career-best effort wining a first-level allowance for Gary Sciacca. She is 2 for 2 on Aqueduct's main track.

Dana's Bell chased front-running winners in her last four starts for Gary Contessa. She os stretching out and may grab the early lead in an otherwise paceless field.