Emery ships in for Victory Ride off sharp win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The ease in which Emery won the Leslie’s Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs less than four weeks ago gives trainer Brad Cox the confidence to wheel her back on relatively short rest in Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride Stakes at Aqueduct.

After breaking a few steps to the right from her outside post in the Leslie’s Lady, Emery simply cruised along down the backstretch and despite having to go four wide around the turn and into the stretch she never felt the whip from Tyler Gaffalione as she strode away in the stretch for a 3 1/2-length victory. It was the third win from four starts for Emery, her lone loss coming in the Grade 1 Frizette at Aqueduct last October.

The Victory Ride, at 6 1/2 furlongs and with only a five-horse field, looks like a good spot for Emery to achieve her first graded win.

In referencing her last start, Cox said Emery “did it easy enough, had plenty left in the tank. We were able to get Tyler to come up and ride her. He knows her well and it look likes an opportunity to get some graded black type and maybe a graded win.”

Prior to her win at Churchill, Emery won an allowance race at Keeneland with less than a smooth trip as Gaffalione had to take a firm hold of her behind horses going into the turn.

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Emery’s biggest rival Thursday is fellow Kentucky shipper Halina’s Forte, who won a second-level allowance race on May 31 at Churchill. Halina’s Forte has already successfully shipped to New York, winning the Ruthless Stakes during the winter. In between, she finished eighth in the Grade 1 Ashland, a failed attempt to stretch out around two turns, and was fourth in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on Derby Day.

“I think it’s time to try graded type again,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “The two-other-than was a good confidence booster and she’s trained well since that. We ran against Brad’s filly with another one of our’s, she’s probably the one to beat, but I like the way we drew with the speed inside of us.”

Jose Ortiz rides Halina’s Forte from post 4.

Both Emery, who has post 3, and Halina’s Forte would seem to benefit from an expected strong early pace. Part of that pace is likely to be provided by Mystic Lake, who is 3 for 4 on dirt, including victories in the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and, most recently, the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico.

“She ran a big race last time, very impressive, she’s going to need to improve again,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “Speed’s her game.”

Flavien Prat rides Mystic Lake from the rail.

Golden Degree has won her last two starts, including a maiden $40,000 claimer by 32 lengths and a starter allowance by 7 1/2, the latter win coming on June 22. She was claimed three starts back for $30,000 by trainer and part-owner Linda Rice.

Autumn Evening, 2 for 2 since being transferred to Rick Dutrow, could work out an up-close stalking trip from her outside draw under Manny Franco.

The Victory Ride goes as race 8 on a nine-race July Fourth card that begins at 1:05 p.m. and includes the $150,000 Perfect Sting Stakes scheduled for a mile on turf.

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