Fresh faces intrigue in co-features

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A fresh face at this time of year at Aqueduct is always a welcome sight. There are two such horses that fit the bill in a pair of allowance events that serve as the co-features on Sunday’s nine-race card.

In the seventh, a first-level allowance for New York-breds going seven furlongs, Real Dan makes his first start since he won his career debut here 13 months ago. In race 8, an open company first-level allowance race, Storm Rising makes her first start since an eye-catching debut victory last month at Tampa Bay Downs.

In his debut, Real Dan, a 4-year-old gelding by Flatter, broke slowly and was parked four wide down the backside. He made a move to the leaders around the turn, opened up a two-length advantage in midstretch, and held off a late challenge to win by three-quarters of a length. He ran six furlongs in 1:12.72 and earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure. The field Real Dan beat is a combined 2 for 40 over the last 13 months.

Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said Real Dan had a few minor issues that kept him away from the races for over a year. Real Dan, a flashy-looking chestnut gelding, shows 14 workouts since Nov. 26 and gets the services of Manny Franco, this meet’s leading rider who was also aboard for Real Dan’s maiden victory.

“We were high on him then, we’re still high on him,” Hughes said. “We hope his morning training transfers to the afternoon.”

While Real Dan faces nine more-experienced runners than himself, the group is rather lackluster and inconsistent. Playwright has three wins and seven seconds from 17 starts and hails from the powerful Danny Gargan barn. Bourbon Did It is coming off a win for maiden $40,000 claiming for Jason Servis and has the speed to be a player.

Shamrock Kid, Binkster, and Sams Last Ghasp also look to be in with a chance.

Storm Rising, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro trained by Christophe Clement, is stretching out from six furlongs to a mile in her second start. But she ran farther than six furlongs in her debut when you take into account that she broke several paths to the right from her outside post and raced four wide down the backside and around the turn. She still drew off nicely to win by 5 1/2 lengths.

“I thought she behaved well, she won well,” Clement said. “She beat a much, much weaker group than what she faces here. I thought she deserved a chance to compete at a better level. She’s a good mover, training well.”

Storm Rising again has the outside post in this eight-horse field. She will be ridden by Reylu Gutierrez.

Out of Orbit, who won a New York-bred second-level allowance race, tries open company for the first time. She is trained by Phil Serpe.

Pink Twist, sixth in the Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-breds on Dec. 30, will also step into open company for the first time. She is trained by John Terranova.