Hot trainers send out sharp horses in allowance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainers Gary Gullo and Michelle Nevin have both won at a high percentage this winter at Aqueduct. In Friday’s feature, Gullo and Nevin send out two of the protagonists in a contentious second-level optional claimer for New York-bred fillies and mares going six furlongs over the inner track.
Gullo, who is 8 for 30 at the winter meet, sends out Laura Can Disco, a winner of two of three career starts, including a first-level allowance win here on Dec. 15. Nevin, 9 for 26 at the meet, will saddle Ms. Sylvia A., a winner of three of six career starts, including a first-level allowance win over the main track on Nov. 23.
Eight of the 11 fillies and mares entered are running under the second-level allowance condition, while three – including the 11-time winner Here’s Zealicious – are being offered for the optional claiming price of $40,000.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ms. Sylvia A (Last 3 Beyers: 71-65-67)
◗ She came off a two-month layoff on Nov. 23 to win first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs over main track. She had to wait for room around the far turn, tipped four to five wide in the stretch, and ran down the pacesetters.
◗ She finished second to Blithely at this condition on Sept. 17 at Belmont. Ms. Sylvia A. was one of four next-out winners from that race.
◗ She enters this race off similar two-month layoff and gets a rider switch from Larry Mejias to Cornelio Velasquez.
◗ She should have plenty of pace to sit behind.
◗ She owns a win over the inner track, albeit in a $35,000 maiden claimer last March.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Ms. Sylvia A: Trainer Michelle Nevin is 26-12-3-2 with a $3.20 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints following a layoff between 61 and 180 days. – Mike Hogan Click for more details.
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Laura Can Disco (Last 3 Beyers: 78-67-45)
◗ After finishing second in her career debut, which came in the mud at Saratoga, Laura Can Disco came back with a maiden win sprinting over the turf in October and a front-running allowance score over a fast inner track on Dec. 15.
◗ She drew the rail in the allowance win on Dec. 15, and used her speed to build 4 1/2-length lead before holding on to win by a length. Sheriffa, fourth in that Dec. 15 race, came back to win her next start.
“I don’t think she loved the mud first time,” Gullo said. “She ran damn good last time. She’s getting better and better. She’s got a nice stride on her.”
◗ She could face pace pressure early from La Bella Valeria, who has two wins and four seconds from her last six starts.
Here’s Zealicious (Last 3 Beyers: 69-72-69)
◗ Seven-year-old mare steps up in class after winning two straight claiming races at the $20,000 level. The 11-time winner has been claimed out of her last three starts.
◗ She is 3 for 3 over the inner track.
◗ She won for this claiming price last July at Belmont.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: La Bella Valeria. Her starter allowance win on Dec. 5 came back weak, with the runners behind her going 5-0-0-0 in their next start. – Mike Hoga Click for more details.
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