Hay Field, Nisha both fit, but only one will run

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Handicappers won’t have to choose between Nisha and Hay Field when deciding whom to play in Thursday’s featured second-level optional $62,500 claiming race at Aqueduct. But they may want to wait until owner James Riccio Sr. and trainer Jeremiah Englehart decide which one they will run before delving too deep.

Nisha and Hay Field were entered with apprentice Reylu Gutierrez named on both, meaning only one may run under state rules. On paper, both fit the race, as they’ve combined to win nine of 13 races since being acquired by their current connections.

Hay Field may be the better fit, as her off-the-pace style seems to suit the potential flow of this 6 1/2-furlong race.

Hay Field, who is 3 for 6 at Aqueduct, is dropping back to the level at which she won at Belmont on Sept. 9. Most recently, she finished fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Empire Distaff, running at a distance and facing a level of competition that might have been a bit too much for her, Englehart said.

“She’s handled this race in the past,” Englehart said. “We figured we’d probably try to spot her in a race she can be competitive in.”

Two starts back, Nisha was good enough to beat Your Love and Yorkiepoo Princess in an optional $80,000 claimer. Those two fillies have since come back to win, with Yorkiepoo Princess taking the off-the-turf Autumn Days Stakes here Sunday.

On Monday, Englehart was lamenting that he hadn’t entered Nisha as main-track-only for that race.

“We probably should have thought about that a little bit more – that’s my fault,” Englehart said. “I thought she wouldn’t be good enough for it. The way it turned out, I thought she would have fit just fine.”

Regardless of which one runs, she will break from the rail.

Kathryn the Wise won the first three races of her career, then was sidelined more than a year due to injury. She came back off the layoff with a dull fourth-place finish at this level on Oct. 4 at Belmont.

“She didn’t run well at all,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Surprised. . . . We regrouped with her, she seems to be training well again, so I’m going to give it a shot and see if she comes back to her former self.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Hay Field, by Haynesfield
Last 3 Beyers: 69-84-83

◗ Prior to finishing fifth of 10 in the Empire Distaff last month, the New York-bred had won two open-company allowance races.

◗ Should get a contested pace to close into in this spot.

Nisha, by First Samurai
Last 3 Beyers: 83-86-85

◗ Her only two losses over the last 14 months have come on turf, and in one of those races she lost her rider leaving the gate.

◗ Only negative would be the potential to get involved in a speed duel.

Tiznow’s Smile, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 74-78-87

◗ Shortens up to a sprint distance and, like Hay Field, would benefit from a lively pace up front.