El Grande O gets back to statebreds in Sleepy Hollow

El Grande O was a memorable winner the last time he ran against New York-breds, and his connections will be hoping for more of the same when he returns to restricted company for the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow on Sunday at Aqueduct.

The race is one of eight New York-bred stakes on the Empire Showcase Day card, and the offerings are worth a cumulative $1.6 million. The Sleepy Hollow and the $200,000 Maid of the Mist cater to 2-year-olds. The races will both be run at a one-turn mile. It’s the distance El Grande O raced over last time, when he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Champagne on Oct. 7 at Aqueduct. One start prior, El Grande O had rolled by 8 1/4 lengths in the Bertram F. Bongard for New York-breds on Sept. 24 at Aqueduct.

“We gave him a try in the Champagne, which was a little over his pay grade right now,” trainer Linda Rice said. “He’s back in against New York-breds and hopefully he can run another big race.”

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For his effort in the Bongard, El Grande O earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 and in the process defeated a number of the same rivals he will face in the 10-horse Sleepy Hollow. As for his Champagne rivals, winner Timberlake was among the horses in the field who have since been pre-entered in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

El Grande O has long been a regular in New York. He was a maiden special weight winner on turf in July at Belmont Park. El Grande O defeated New York-breds that afternoon then came back against open company and was second to eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile pre-entrant The Wine Steward in the $150,000 Skidmore on Aug. 11 at Saratoga. El Grande O went on to run second in the Funny Cide at Saratoga before his Bongard win at Aqueduct.

“We brought him here pretty early in the year,” Rice said. “Actually, earlier than usual, in March. He has flourished with the training and racing. He’s got a very good mind, which has allowed us to race him more than most 2-year-olds in the past.”

El Grande O has won 2 of 7 starts and has had success at distances of up to seven furlongs. Rice is hopeful the foundation of races he has will serve him well as he seeks to conquer a mile Sunday.

“He has fitness, experience,” she said.

El Grande O is a son of Take Charge Indy who races for Barry Schwartz. Jose Ortiz has the mount from the rail in the Sleepy Hollow.

“It’s not ideal,” Rice said of the post. “I’m sure Jose Ortiz will figure it out.”

Aggelos the Great, who was second in the Bongard, will start from post 3. He was making his stakes debut in that race on the heels of a maiden special weight win Sept. 14 at Aqueduct.

Aggelos the Great is a son of City of Light and the multiple stakes-winning mare Spritely, who earned more than $450,000 and has produced a multiple stakes winner of nearly $550,000 in Pauseforthecause. Dylan Davis has the mount for RAP Racing and trainer George Weaver.

Rematch in Maid of Mist

The Maid of the Mist is restricted to fillies, and it features a rematch of Cara’s Time and Caldwell Luvs Gold, who finished one-two in the Joseph A. Gimma on Sept. 24 at Aqueduct.

Cara’s Time led throughout for a 1 1/2-length win over Caldwell Luvs Gold, who closed from last in the seven-furlong race run in the slop. Dylan Davis has the mount on Cara’s Time for Richard Greeley and trainer Mitchell Friedman.

Caldwell Luvs Gold might benefit if the track is fast this time around. She won both her maiden and the Seeking the Ante Stakes on fast tracks at Saratoga. Manny Franco has the mount on Caldwell Luvs Gold for Dicke Racing and trainer Brad Cox.

The fillies will break side by side in the field of eight, with Caldwell Luvs Gold in post 4 and Cara’s Time in post 5.

Others set to start include Bernietakescharge, whose dam, Berning Rose, is a past winner of the Maid of the Mist. She enters off an 8 1/2-length win in a maiden special weight for New York-breds at Saratoga.

Kaz’ Rose invades off a debut win at Penn National that has produced two next-out maiden winners. She is a half-sister to African Rose, a multiple stakes winner of $586,759, and a full sister to Lynx, who won two divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes.

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