First clash of two star sprinters

OZONE PARK, N.Y. were the two dominant filly sprinters in New York in 2005. Saturday, they meet at Aqueduct for the first time in a strong edition of the $75,000 Garland of Roses, the last sprint stakes of the year for females in New York.

Bank Audit, a 4-year-old, has won 5 of 11 starts this year, including the Distaff Breeders Cup and Genuine Risk both Grade 2 events as well as the listed Interborough Handicap. Acey Deucey, a 3-year-old who has yet to face her elders, won the Grade 1 Prioress, Grade 2 Comely, and the listed Dearly Precious.

Bank Audit enters this off a strong 4 1/2-length victory in the House Party, an overnight stakes over Aqueducts main track. Acey Deucey has not run since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 6, a race from which she emerged with a wrenched ankle.

In the House Party, Bank Audit bounced back from a disappointing summer in which she finished fourth in the Ballerina and Gallant Bloom. Following the Gallant Bloom, Bank Audit was diagnosed with a pulled muscle in her back. According to trainer Frank Laboccetta Jr., Bank Audit was worked on by noted veterinarian Dr. Steve Allday.

She trained great after that, Laboccetta said. She ran a great race. Hopefully, we covered what was bothering her.

In the House Party, Bank Audit showed the speed that made her successful earlier in the year. Laboccetta said he would like to see Norberto Arroyo Jr. get Bank Audit into the game again on Saturday.

She doesnt like getting hit with too much dirt, Laboccetta said.

While Bank Audit will be into the race early, Acey Deucey will try to win it from well off the pace. She should get ample pace to run at with the likes of High Peaks, Megascape, and Welcome Home in the field.

Travelator, who won this race last year, is back. After finishing seventh in the Grade 2 First Flight Handicap, Travelator was sold at auction last month for $400,000. Her new owners, the Cloverleaf Farm, want to run her again before retiring and breeding her.

Baldomera, who won the 2004 Ruthless Stakes here, is a live longshot and would benefit from a hot pace.