Forever Liesl back to two turns in Top Flight Invitational

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The last time Forever Liesl ran 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track, she put forth a breakthrough performance, winning the Ladies Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths. The next time Forever Liesl runs 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track will be Saturday in the $200,000 Top Flight Invitational, and trainer Michelle Nevin can only hope for a similar type performance.

Forever Liesl was one of six fillies and mares entered in the Top Flight, one of two stakes on Saturday’s program. The $100,000 Bridgetown for 3-year-olds on the turf at six furlongs is the other.

Forever Liesl has proven to be a better two-turn horse than one. However, with no other options for her around two turns following the Ladies, Nevin ran her in the Heavenly Prize Invitational, a one-turn mile race March 10. She finished third, 9 1/4 lengths behind winner Divine Miss Grey.

“We decided to run in the other race rather than wait the two months, but I still thought she ran very well in that race,” Nevin said. “We’re definitely looking forward to going back around two turns.”

Eric Cancel retains the mount on Forever Liesl.

Trainer Mark Hennig is looking forward to getting My Miss Lilly back around two turns in the Top Flight. My Miss Lilly won the Grade 3 Gazelle going 1 1/8 miles as a 3-year-old last year. After an 11th in the Kentucky Oaks and a third in the Mother Goose, My Miss Lilly was sidelined the remainder of the year due to a chip in an ankle.

My Miss Lilly came off the bench with a third-place finish in an allowance race going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream.

“It was kind of a starting point, just something to get us to here,” Hennig said.

Also entered in the Top Flight are Another Broad, Frostie Anne, and Midnight Disguise.

The $100,000 Bridgetown drew a field of five, including the Wesley Ward-trained filly Wonder Stone. She will face four colts, including Mount Travers, Regally Irish, Skol, and Skychief.