Flatterywillgetyou starts over in Thursday allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Flatterywillgetyou appeared to be developing into yet another open-stakes-caliber New York-bred sprinting filly for trainer Linda Rice when she got sidetracked in last summer’s Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park.

After surgery to remove an ankle chip and the required time off, Flatterywillgetyou returns five months later in a no-conditions New York-bred allowance race for fillies and mares that serves as Aqueduct’s featured event on Thursday’s eight-race card.

The six-furlong race drew a field of nine, including stakes winners Frosty Margarita, Absatootly, She’s All Ready, Court Dancer, and Myfourchix.

Rice has had great success with New York-bred female sprinters such as La Verdad – the Eclipse Award champion female sprinter of 2015 – and Hot City Girl, an open-company stakes winner.

After losing her debut last December at Aqueduct, Flatterywillgetyou reeled off four consecutive victories, including a one-length win in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont on May 30. She stepped into open company in the Victory Ride but finished fifth of seven and came out of the race with a chip in an ankle that needed to be removed.

“She was coming into form; she was getting better with every race,” Rice said. “I had hoped to get a graded win or graded placing out of that race.”

Rice has been pleased with Flatterywillgetyou’s training leading up to her return. She will break from post 7 out of 9 under Jose Ortiz.

Rice also has entered Zippity Zoom, who has won her last two starts against New York-breds but ran fifth of six in an open-company allowance race two weeks ago.

KEY CONTENDERS

Flatterywillgetyou, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 73-79-77

◗ Went 2 for 3 sprinting over the inner track last winter, though her Beyer Speed Figures for those races were on the light side.

“Her previous races on the inner track weren’t great,” Rice said. “I don’t know if that’s a function of preferring [Belmont] or her getting better. Time will tell.”

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Rice is 17 for 77 (22 percent) with a $1.65 ROI in dirt sprints over the last three years with horses returning from a layoff of 61-180 days.

Frosty Margarita, by Frost Giant

Last 3 Beyers: 77-29-74

◗ Won stakes both sprinting and going long over the inner track last winter.

◗ Comes off a runner-up finish behind Highway Star in a seven-furlong Stallion Stakes race. Highway Star came back to win the Grade 3 Go for Wand earlier this month.

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 8 for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Court Dancer, by War Chant

Last 3 Beyers: 60-72-71

◗ Has a solid record over the inner track, including a victory in the Broadway Stakes for Rodriguez last February.

◗ Goes first off the claim for Jason Servis, who, according to DRF Formulator, is 4 for 9 with a $2.85 ROI over the last three years first off the claim in dirt sprints over Aqueduct’s inner track.