Hot City Girl seeks 3-year-old form in Union Avenue
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Is Hot City Girl finally ready to cycle back to her 3-year-old form in Thursday’s $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga? That’s the key question facing handicappers when assessing a wide-open field of eight slated to go postward in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for New York-bred fillies and mares.
Hot City Girl won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks last summer, then closed out her 3-year-old campaign with a game second-place effort behind Birdatthewire in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita. She has started just twice since, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie and third as the 7-5 favorite nearly five months later when back against New York-breds in the Dancing Renee at Belmont Park.
“Things went really well for her last summer and fall,” said Linda Rice, who trains Hot City Girl for Lady Sheila Stable. “We got close in the Grade 1 in California, but she bled a little in that race. We ran her in the Barbara Fritchie, and obviously that didn’t go well, so we gave her five months off. She didn’t have a lot of preparation going into her last race, although we were a little disappointed, of course. Hopefully, she’ll rebound.”
Although seemingly at her best on the lead, Rice said she doesn’t believe Hot City Girl has to be in front to win.
“She has so much natural speed, like her sister La Verdad, that she just finds herself there, but I don’t think she has to be on the lead,” Rice said. “I’ll just let Jose [Ortiz] figure it out.”
Hot City Girl could get tested early by Court Dancer, who was claimed out of a 6 1/4-length, wire-to-wire victory Aug. 7.
Quezon has defeated Hot City Girl in both of their meetings. She won the Bouwerie Stakes by 3 1/4 widening lengths in what turned out to be her 3-year-old finale last May at Belmont Park and was second in the Dancing Renee in the pair’s most recent encounter.
The stakes winner Dr. Fager’s Gal shipped from the West Coast to compete against New York-breds for the first time in the Union Avenue while looking to snap a seven-race winless streak for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Key Contenders
Hot City Girl, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-88
◗ She won her only previous start at 6 1/2 furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths, defeating open, optional-claiming and allowance company last fall at Belmont Park.
Quezon, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 90-82-86
◗ She caught the red-hot Haveyougoneaway when second-best in the Dancing Renee, with Haveyougoneaway coming back to defeat open company when upsetting the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here earlier in the session.
Dr. Fager’s Gal, by Wild Desert
Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-84
◗ Makes her first start on the East Coast since finishing a disappointing fifth as the favorite in an overnight stakes last fall at Keeneland.