D'wild Ride gets rematch in stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Access Fee and D'wild Ride finished a head apart in the Red Cross Stakes on the opening weekend at Monmouth Park.

They square off again Sunday at the same venue under similar conditions in the $70,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

Access Fee got the final bob in the Red Cross for her second straight stakes win and third in her last four races.

Speed is Access Fee's best weapon, and she'll need that again from the rail with Luis Garcia aboard for Laurel Park-based trainer Larry Murray. While Access Fee prevailed at 4-5 in the Red Cross, D'wild Ride was an 11-1 outsider. D'wild Ride ranged into contention four wide into the lane and pressed on gamely to the wire.

"She ran a good race last time," trainer Joe Orseno said.

He was not itching for a rematch.

"I did not expect to see that same horse back in there," Orseno said. "I would prefer to not run against her, but my filly is training well."

D'wild Ride has run distances ranging from five furlongs to a mile, on turf and dirt. Orseno believes a dirt sprint, from six to seven furlongs, is her preferred situation.

And he is hoping for a different outcome this time as D'wild Ride has the outside slot in the seven-horse field.

"I think this time there is a bit more speed to go with Access Fee," Orseno said. "If a few horses press the pace, it could soften her up enough. I like my post. I'd rather be outside than trapped down in there."

Distorted Passion could be part of the pace scenario, if she runs here. Trainer Todd Pletcher also entered the filly in a similar spot at Belmont Park on Sunday, the What a Summer Stakes.

Distorted Passion would have a class edge on the competition following in-the-money finishes in Grade 2 handicaps at Aqueduct: the Distaff and the Bed o' Roses.

All Giving also comes up from Maryland for this race, having won the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico for trainer Flint Stites last time out. In her prior effort, All Giving finished third as Cammy's Choice and Access Fee dead-heated for the win in the Primonetta Stakes at Laurel.

Love for Not steps out into open company, following a second-place finish behind Love That Dance in the Open Mind Handicap for New Jersey-breds.