Garland of Roses contender Saguaro Row has won off a long layoff before

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Saguaro Row returns from a 10-month layoff in Sunday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct and if she can return to the form displayed here last fall and winter she could be tough to beat.

Saguaro Row, based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, shipped to Aqueduct three times last year, winning the Pumpkin Pie Stakes in November and Interborough Stakes in January, both at seven furlongs. In between, she finished second to Spiced Perfection in the Grade 3 Go for Wand at a mile.

The Garland of Roses is run at six furlongs, a distance at which Saguraro Row is unbeaten from three starts.

Saguaro Row was put on the shelf following a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Handicap on Feb. 15, her 10th race in 10 months.

“Although she was sound when we stopped on her I think she had peaked and was coming down the other side,” trainer Michael Stidham said. “She seems to be a good winter filly for Aqueduct, so we figured [that] was the time to freshen her up and have her ready to go this winter.”

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While Saguaro Row is coming off a 10-month layoff, she won an allowance race at Keeneland in April 2019 off a 13-month layoff.

“She seems to run well fresh, she’s really doing good,” Stidham said. “Mentally and physically she’s great right now, we’re hoping she bounces right off the shelf in good shape.”

The last time Saguaro Row ran six furlongs, she won an allowance race at Belmont in May 2019. One of the horses she beat that day was Honor Way, who has won five of her last 12 starts, including the Pumpkin Pie by 4 1/2 lengths on Nov. 1 at Belmont. That race was at seven furlongs.

“Her last race was a big race, seven-eighths is her best distance,” said Charlton Baker, trainer of Honor Way. “There’s a lot of speed in this race, and that might help her a little bit. The track might be a little off, and she likes that too.”

Jose Lezcano rides Honor Way from post 5.

The speed should be provided by Honey I’m Good, unraced since winning the Harmony Lodge Stakes at Belmont in June, Hey Marmaluke, and Lady Ninja. The latter is making her first start since February and first for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Lady Ninja, a 6-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection, was in the barn of Richard Baltas in Southern California where she won the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita in the fall of 2019.

Lady Ninja breaks from the rail under Jose Ortiz.

Pacific Gale, winless in her last 14 starts, and Bridlewood Cat, fourth in the Regret Stakes at Monmouth in September, complete the field.