The Great Johanna improved with Lasix

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Great Johanna and A Bridge Too Far have both come back from significant injuries to find the winner’s circle. Thursday, the pair top a field of nine fillies and mares entered in a first-level allowance race for New York-breds that tops the eight-race Aqueduct card.

The Great Johanna, a 5-year-old daughter of Teuflesberg, broke bones in her back when she flipped in the paddock at Saratoga in the summer of 2018. After missing a year, she returned to action in the summer of 2019 and after four straight losses, The Great Johanna won two straight races in a two-week span going a mile over Aqueduct’s main track. Most recently, she finished third in this condition.

The Great Johanna, trained by Jimmy Ferraro, has posted the best three Beyer Speed Figures of her career since she was put on Lasix. Ferraro believes that the filly has improved with maturity.

“She was really high strung and nervous as a 2- and 3-year-old,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro was a little disappointed with The Great Johanna’s trip last out, feeling she had a little too much to do when running third behind Am Impazible and Love and Love. Thursday, The Great Johanna will break from the rail under Junior Alvarado.

“He’s going to have to figure out something, you don’t want to get behind the eight ball,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro said he is very excited with how well The Great Johanna is doing coming into Thursday’s race.

“She’s jumping out of her skin,” he said. “The only thing I was concerned with is how she’ll handle the ship over to Aqueduct.”

Ferraro was one of several trainers moved to Belmont when the New York Racing Association shut down the Aqueduct backstretch on Jan. 1 and moved those trainers and horses to Belmont Park.

A Bridge Too Far came off a 10-month layoff to win a New York-bred allowance race by two lengths on Dec. 28. A Bridge Too Far, a 4-year-old daughter of Verrazano, debuted on turf at Gulfstream last February and finished ninth. She came out of the race with a broken tibia and was given time off.

“When the dust clears she’s going to be a little better on the turf,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I thought her race was very professional coming off a long layoff. It’s always tough to take the next step, but I thought she won with a little bit of ease so that’s a good sign going forward.”

Doll, the horse A Bridge Too Far defeated Dec. 28, did come back to win on Sunday at Aqueduct.

Gilda Marie, Fight On Lucy, Freddymo Factor, Carlisle Belle, Summer Fantasy, My Last Million, and Diamond N Simon complete the field.

Earlier on Thursday’s card, six New York-bred 3-year-old maiden winners try to clear the first-level allowance condition going six furlongs. Him She Kisses had a troubled start when fourth in this condition last out on Jan. 10. He gets the services of Luis Cardenas, a 10-pound apprentice who has impressed with limited opportunities.

Mission Wrapitpup, Power Up Paynter, First Deputy, Hold My Call, and Ariesberg complete the lineup.