Field of nine gathered for wide-open Notebook

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With two-time stakes winner El Grande O skipping the race, Saturday’s $100,000 Notebook Stakes for New York-bred juvenile colts and geldings at Aqueduct looks to be a pretty wide-open affair.

Nine were entered in the six-furlong Notebook, though Works for Me was cross-entered for Sunday’s $120,000 Central Park Stakes on turf and is now likely to end up there, according to trainer Joe Lee.

Aggelos the Great, trained by George Weaver for St. John’s men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino, finished a well-beaten second behind El Grande O in the Bertram Bongard and was third to that same rival in the Sleepy Hollow.

The Notebook represents a turnback to six furlongs, the distance of Aggelos the Great’s lone victory at Aqueduct which happened to be the last time he caught a fast track.

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Aggelos the Great breaks from post 3 under Manny Franco.

Always a Warrior, trained by Carlos David, returns to New York-bred company after finishing third in an open-company allowance at Pimlico on Sept. 24. His two best races were run over a sloppy track. In between he finished a well-beaten fifth in the Funny Cide Stakes.

David said he would like to see jockey Eric Cancel gain a forward position early.

“I like the outside post, hopefully he can get out and try to get in the mix,” David said.

Ice the Kicker, a front-running winner of a maiden race here on Oct. 22 for trainer Melanie Giddings and owner Bill Parcells, will likely have to be sent by jockey Junior Alvarado from the rail.

Detective Tom looks like another possible speedball in the field.

Bonne Chance, Wine Responsibly, Perliano, and Taporical complete the field.

The Notebook goes as race 4.

Cara’s Time heads Key Cents

Cara’s Time, winner of the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes and runner-up in the Maid of the Mist, heads a field of eight New York-bred juvenile fillies entered to run six furlongs in the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes.

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Cara’s Time, trained by Mitch Friedman, has been in front early on in all four of her starts. Cara’s Time won her debut at Belmont Park in June yet Friedman added blinkers to her equipment in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga where she got a bit too rank and finished a well-beaten fifth.

Friedman removed the blinkers for the Joseph A. Gimma and Cara’s Time sprung a 23-1 front-running upset. Sent off at 5-1 in the Maid of the Mist, going a mile, Cara’s Time set the pace but could not hold off My Mane Squeeze, settling for second.

Cara’s Time breaks from post 3 under Dylan Davis.

Soloshot, trained by George Weaver, is 2 for 2 though her maiden win came in an off-the-turf race at Saratoga and her second win came in the Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes.

“She’s 2 for 2 and last time she dictated the pace against what I assume is an easier bunch than what she faces on Saturday,” Weaver said. “Not a whole lot of options, she’s breezing well. Eventually you got to run against somebody that has a chance to beat you but thus far she’s put her company to bed.”

My Shea D Lady won her debut against open company at Gulfstream Park and was third in the Seeking the Ante Stakes and fourth in the Joseph A Gimma.

Trainer Carlos David is removing the blinkers from her equipment on Saturday.

“I didn’t get the response I wanted,” David said when asked about the blinkers. “Still playing with her a little bit to figure out what she likes, but she’s been training good.”

My Shea D Lady drew the rail and while David is not looking for her to be on the lead, he would like to see Jose Ortiz get her away from the gate and attain a decent stalking position.

Alley’s Song, a debut winner for Brad Cox; Ashburn Alley, who will be sent out by Tom Morley after trainer Kelly Breen won with her on debut; Tricky Temper; Unicorn Cake; and Brown Suga Babe complete the field.

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