French import Zelda might have turf condition in her favor for Glen Cove Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Zelda has been training with a purpose for her U.S. debut, which is scheduled to come in Friday’s $120,000 Glen Cove Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Glen Cove, restricted to 3-year-old fillies, is scheduled for six furlongs on the outer turf course. Rain was forecast for Thursday night. The Glen Cove drew 10, but trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday that he planned to scratch Girl With a Dream, who would have been making her first start on turf.
In France, under the care of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, Zelda went 3 for 7, with all three of her wins coming on soft or good-to-soft ground. Zelda is winless in three starts this year, but was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths in a Group 1 at Longchamp in May. She has not run since finishing sixth as the favorite in a listed stakes in July, and has been transferred to trainer Christophe Clement. The ownership group of Zelda includes retired NBA player Tony Parker.
Zelda has worked four times over the Belmont Park turf course this fall. Following a rapid work Sept. 30, she was well held during a work Sunday and could have done more than her rider allowed. She worked a half-mile in 50.05 seconds.
“She had decent form in Europe,” Clement said. “She’s a little bit busy mentally. She’s probably more of a seven-eighths to a mile kind of a filly, but I think it makes sense to bring her back [to] six, being a bit busy.”
Flavien Prat rides Zelda from post 7 in the nine-horse field.
Clement also entered Gal in a Rush in the Glen Cove. Gal in a Rush worked in company with Zelda on Sunday, starting a few lengths in front of that one and finishing on even terms. Clement was pointing Gal in a Rush to an allowance, but said the way she’s been training, “I think she deserves a shot.”
Dylan Davis rides Gal in a Rush from post 5.
Poppy Flower and Sail By are stakes winners on turf. Poppy Flower, trained by Bill Mott, won the Galway at Saratoga and the Stormy Blues at Laurel Park this year. She does her best running on firm turf and with a lively pace in front. Neither variable appears to be in play Friday.
Before Sail By won the Miss Grillo going long last fall, she had a win and a second sprinting on turf. Her form going long this year has been poor, so she is being shortened up by trainer Leah Gyarmati in what is expected to Sail By’s last start before she is sold at auction in November.
Everyoneloveslinda could be dangerous if this race is moved to the dirt. She won a maiden race in the slop at Belmont in May and followed that with an allowance win at Monmouth in June, her most recent start.
Music Amore, Half Is Enough, Tasweya, and Wonka complete the field.
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