Easy Living must hold off Canal Six in Sunday allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It could be the speed of Easy Living against the closing kick of Canal Six when they go a mile in Sunday’s $65,000 second-level allowance feature for New York-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

The $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, scheduled for a mile on the turf, was meant to be the Sunday feature, but New York Racing Association officials have pushed back the start of turf racing until Wednesday.

Canal Six, a daughter of Noble Causeway trained by Tom Morley for Len Riggio’s My Meadowview Farm, will be making her fourth start at this condition and her second start off a 12-week layoff. In her return, she finished fifth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, going six furlongs in the mud March 7.

“I think she probably needed the race,” Morley said. “Her piece of work since that race was her best piece of work that she’s done solo. I’m looking for a big performance.”

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Canal Six breaks from the outside post under Manny Franco. Seven were entered, but trainer Linda Rice said Friday she is likely to scratch Hot City Girl, the lone 3-year-old filly in the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Canal Six (Last 3 Beyers: 71-59-75)

◗ She stretches out to a one-turn mile from six furlongs.

◗ In November 2013, Canal Six won a one-turn, one-mile maiden race over Aqueduct’s main track by five lengths. Also, she finished second going a one-turn mile here last Nov. 20. Girlabouttown, the winner of that race, won an open, first-level allowance here March 13.

Easy Living (Last 3 Beyers: 63-63-72)

◗ Daughter of Big Brown is 2 for 2 in one-turn, one-mile races, both at Belmont.

◗ She was transferred from Christophe Clement to Kiaran McLaughlin with the idea of running her over the inner track during the winter.

“It took us a little longer to get her in than we thought,” McLaughlin said. “She’s trained well. Wish we weren’t in the 1 hole.”

◗ McLaughlin has won 15 races from 33 starters in the last 30 days, including eight wins from his last 13 runners.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last two years, McLaughlin is 6 for 14 with a $5.92 return on investment with horses making their first start for him following a trainer switch. He is 5 for 7 in that circumstance with horses returning from a layoff of at least 200 days. Easy Living is making her first start in 231 days.

Lutheran Miss (Last 3 Beyers: 69-69-65)

◗ She brings in a three-race winning streak that began with a 3 1/2-length victory in a maiden race run in the mud over the main track Nov. 28.

◗ She has been effective from both on and off the pace.