Familiar foes fill Biogio's Rose field

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The first five finishers of the Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 30 are among the eight runners entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes.

In the Bay Ridge, run at 1 1/8 miles, Split Time defeated No Hayne No Gayne by 1 1/4 lengths. Split Time certainly had the better trip of the two, sitting inside throughout, whereas No Hayne No Gayne was three to four wide and then farther out still in the stretch.

The Biogio’s Rose, run as a one-turn mile, will be Split Time’s first start since the Bay Ridge. Meanwhile, No Hayne No Gayne came back on Jan. 25 to win a statebred allowance by 7 3/4 lengths, earning a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

That race continued a series of improved performances for No Hayne No Gayne, a 5-year-old daughter of Haynesfield.

“I think as she’s gotten older she’s gotten better,” said Toby Sheets, the assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen as well as part owner of No Hayne No Gayne. “Spent a lot of time with her. She’s a big ol’ girl, and as a 2-year-old she was just immature and stuff.”

No Hayne No Gayne’s Jan. 25 victory came at the one-turn mile. Perhaps the only concern is that she is running back on 16 days’ rest. Last year, she ran in the Biogio’s Rose on 14 days’ rest and finished third behind Holiday Disguise.

Split Time will have had six weeks since her last start, and though this is a cutback in distance for her, she is 3 for 3 at the one-turn mile. Those three wins are part of her 4-for-6 record over Aqueduct’s main track.

Linda Rice trains Split Time. She also trains Midnight Disguise, who in the Biogio’s Rose is making her first start since she won the Bouwerie Stakes last May. Rice won last year’s Biogio’s Rose with Holiday Disguise (a half-sister to Midnight Disguise), who hadn’t run since winning the 2017 Bouwerie. Midnight Disguise’s 255-day layoff is only three days shorter than her sister’s last year.

Midnight Disguise was sidelined due to a soft-tissue injury, Rice said.

“She’s not a real strong breeze horse in the morning, so I’m thinking she’s going to need a race to get her head in the game,” Rice said.

Frostie Anne, a 6-year-old mare who finished fifth in the Bay Ridge, is making the final start of her career, according to trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Unbridledadventure, Bonita Bianca, and Playinwiththeboys complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

No Hayne No Gayne, by Haynesfield
Last 3 Beyers: 88-79-74

◗ Improving mare is coming off the best race of her career, with the lone worry being a possible bounce.

◗ With not much pace in the race, No Hayne No Gayne figures to be on or close to the lead under Reylu Gutierrez.

Split Time, by Take Charge Lady
Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-81

◗ She is a four-time stakes winner, with two of those victories coming at Aqueduct.

Midnight Disguise, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 79-73-86

◗ Two of her three stakes wins have come at the one-turn mile, including the Busher here last March.

◗ Her come-from-behind running style could be compromised in a race seemingly lacking pace.