Felini will need her running shoes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin thought that one positive to having to wait until December to run Felini again was that she would at least catch an easy field. Such is not the case, as Felini faces a seemingly salty group of fillies and mares in a first-level allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct on Sunday, the final day of racing on the main track.

“I was surprised at the quality,” McLaughlin said as he perused the past performances.

Felini, a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky, showed her quality in winning a maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths at Belmont on Oct. 7. That race drew a light field, and Felini simply dominated on the lead.

Prior to that, Felini finished second behind Breaking Bread at Saratoga in her first start off a 10-month layoff. McLaughlin said the layoff was precipitated by bruising of her cannon bones following the second start of the filly’s 2-year-old year in October 2015.

Felini won on the lead last out, but McLaughlin is hoping she can stalk the pace Sunday in what looks like a field with some early-speed types. Felini will break from post 7 in the nine-horse field.

“From that post, she can sit,” McLaughlin said.

The speed in the race includes Play Unified, who returns from a 15-month layoff, and Apologynotaccepted.

Bombshell was acquired privately by Team Valor International and turned over to trainer Jimmy Jerkens following a debut win over Woodbine’s synthetic surface.

Da Wildcat Girl has 10 wins – albeit all in the lower-level claiming ranks – which is one fewer than the other eight fillies and mares combined.

Following Sunday’s card, racing moves to the inner track beginning Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Felini, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-67

◗ The third-place finisher from her maiden win, Ranger Lady, came back to win a maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths at Finger Lakes.

◗ She has had 58 days since her last start, but her maiden win came with 50 days between races.

Bombshell, by Bellamy Road

Beyer: 69

◗ Broke slowly, rallied wide, and just got up to win her six-furlong debut on the Tapeta at Woodbine. The field from that race is a combined 0 for 9 since.

◗ This will be her first start on dirt.

“She’s been training good,” Jerkens said. “Blew her out a little bit this morning; looks like she got over it pretty nice. She’s got a little more speed than she showed last time.”

◗ Kendrick Carmouche rides from post 4.

Play Unified, by Exchange Rate

Beyer: 72

◗ Recorded a 20-1 upset at Saratoga in her debut on Aug. 30, 2015, and hasn’t been out since. Among the horses she beat that day was Paola Queen, who upset this year’s Grade 1 Test.

◗ She has nine workouts since Oct. 1 for the good layoff trainer George Weaver.