Equilateral tests distance capability in Thursday feature

ELMONT, N.Y. – Sometimes it feels like every day is a “showcase day,” and just in case last Saturday’s Big Apple Showcase Day left horseplayers wanting more, another six races for New York-breds are sprinkled throughout Thursday’s program.

The three open races are for females on the main track, topped by race 8, a preliminary allowance at 1 1/16 miles that serves as the nominal feature.

Equilateral, a 6 1/2-furlong debut winner in the mud earlier at the meet, breaks from post 3 and faces five rivals as she attempts to stretch out for trainer Bobby Ribaudo.

Equilateral caught a sealed, wet track May 10 and was next-to-last in the early going before rallying into contention around the turn and forging to the lead in the stretch at 8-1.

“She was positive going into the race, a very nice filly,” Ribaudo said.

Equilateral is by Arch and out of the dam Stormy B, whose half-brother Rush Bay won the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup at 1 1/8 miles and the Grade 2 Nijinsky at 1 1/2 miles.

“She has a pedigree for the turf, but she had trained well enough on the dirt that we didn’t hesitate to put her on the dirt,” Ribaudo said. “She’s going to stretch out. Sometimes it’s bad when you break your maiden in your first start because you don’t get to fool around in maiden races, trying distances. Now, you have to step up to the next level, and you’re still experimenting, but she’s on her way to longer races.”

Sabbatical, a Phipps Stable homebred who beat maidens at Keeneland in her 2014 debut at seven furlongs, is second-time Lasix and might be set to improve again for Shug McGaughey. The daughter of 2002 Belmont Stakes runner-up Medaglia d’Oro should appreciate the added ground, as older half-brother and stablemate Imagining comes off a victory in the Grade 1 Man o’ War and will be among the favorites in Saturday’s Manhattan Handicap.

Tom Albertrani takes two shots at the $77,000 purse with Aqua Regia, who has finished in the money five straight times, and Ballylee, who adds blinkers after dueling for the lead first time back from a freshening.

Rock Me Mama, the lone dual winner in the field, stretches out from six furlongs for Jason Servis.

The stretch-running Wraith rounds out the lineup.