Horologist looks for another profitable trip to New York in Top Flight Invitational
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In her first start in New York, Horologist won the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational as the 7-1 longest price in a four-horse field last fall at Belmont Park.
That victory earned her a supplemental nomination to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland, where things did not go quite as well, as Horologist finished ninth in a field of 10 behind Monomoy Girl.
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The competition is solid, but not Breeders’ Cup-esque when Horologist makes her second start in New York in Saturday’s $100,000 Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile Top Flight, which drew a field of six, goes as race 5 on a nine-race card that includes the $100,000 Danger’s Hour on turf.
Horologist is a New Jersey-bred mare by Gemologist whose claim to fame before the Beldame had been being undefeated on dirt (5 for 5) at Monmouth Park. She spent some time in Southern California last year with Richard Baltas before being sent to trainer Bill Mott last summer.
Prior to her Beldame victory, Horologist won the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth and was third to Monomoy Girl in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs.
Horologist wintered at Payson Park in Florida before shipping up to New York in time to have a bullet blowout in 36 seconds over the Belmont training track Tuesday.
“She looks as good or better than she did last summer and fall,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s New York-based assistant.
Mrs. Danvers and Thankful, both stakes winners going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, also are contenders in the Top Flight. Mrs. Danvers beat Thankful in the Grade 3 Comely here Nov. 27. Thankful came back to win the Ladies Stakes here Jan. 17 before finishing seventh of eight in the Heavenly Prize going a one-turn mile March 6.
“Looking forward to getting her stretched back out around two turns,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Thankful. “Never seemed to get in a comfort zone the other day.”
Mrs. Danvers finished fifth in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Feb. 20 at Gulfstream. Queen Nekia, the Royal Delta winner, has shipped in for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who won three races including two stakes here last weekend.
Lucky Stride has already won stakes this year at Tampa Bay Downs and Laurel, both at 1 1/16 miles around two turns. She shows a trio of bullet workouts at Fair Hill for trainer Mike Trombetta.