Flipcup returns to Aqueduct in top form

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Flipcup will attempt to transfer her excellent form over Woodbine’s synthetic surface to Aqueduct’s inner-track dirt when she heads a field of eight New York-bred fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes.

Flipcup returns to a surface over which she had a success earlier in her career, winning the East View Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths as a 2-year-old. Last year, however, she finished ninth of 11 in this race behind Storied Lady, who is back to defend her Bay Ridge title.

Leanna Willaford, assistant to trainer Bill Mott, said Flipcup didn’t appear to recover well mentally from her eighth-place finish in last year’s Grade 3 Comely, her start immediately preceding the Bay Ridge. With victories in the Classy N Smart, a race restricted to progeny of Ontario-based stallions, and the Grade 3 Maple Leaf, Flipcup enters this year’s Bay Ridge in a much better frame of mind.

“I think she’s doing a lot better this time this year than she was doing at this time last year,” Willaford said.

Flipcup, a 4-year-old daughter of Milwaukee Brew owned by Team Penney Racing, Adam Wachtel, and Nils Brous, will be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr., this circuit’s leading rider.

The main competition in the 1 1/16-mile race figures to come from Sheriffa and Saythreehailmary’s, who ran 1-2 in a seven-furlong division of the New York Stallion Stakes over the main track on Nov. 15.

KEY CONTENDERS

Flipcup (Last 3 Beyers: 92-78-78)

 Seems to be in career-best form, coming off a pair of stakes wins at Woodbine, including a two-length score in Grade 3 Maple Leaf at 1 1/4 miles.

 Has been beaten in her last six starts against New York-breds, since winning the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes in July 2014.

 Should be able to work out a trip behind the speed of Carameaway, Sherrifa, and Temper Mint Patty.

Sheriffa (Last 3 Beyers: 85-50-87)

 Overcame a slow start and came from off the pace while four wide to win a division of the New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs.

 Went 2 for 3 over inner track last winter, with a pair of front-running wins going a mile and 70 yards.

 Backed up to seventh after setting fast fractions in an open company second-level allowance in September, her only bad race since being claimed by Linda Rice for $16,000 in September 2012.

 Will be saddled by Adam Rice, a nephew of trainer Linda Rice, who is serving a 14-day suspension which ends Sunday.

Storied Lady (Last 3 Beyers: 66-67-59)

 The proverbial horse-for-course with all four of her wins having come over the inner track, including a victory in this race at 6-1 on New Year’s Eve.

 Has been soundly defeated in her last three starts, but shows a solid half-mile work last Saturday for this.

 Trainer John Hertler believes Storied Lady likes two turns, which is why she has done so well over the inner track.

 Hot-riding Kendrick Carmouche picks up the mount.