Ichiban heads into open company

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Ichiban will try to transfer her Saratoga form to Aqueduct when the New York-bred 3-year-old filly meets open company for the first time in a first-level allowance/optional $50,000 claiming race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up scheduled for one mile at Aqueduct.

Ichiban, trained by Linda Rice, went 3 for 3 against New York-breds at Saratoga, winning a maiden race going seven furlongs on July 15, a first-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles on July 26, and the $200,000 Fleet Indian, also at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 27.

“In her workouts, she’s done nothing but improve all year,” said Rice, who trains Ichiban for Cypress Creek Equine. “Usually, the competition is a little stiffer at a mile than it is at a mile and an eighth, but she, to me, is going to be fine at the mile.”

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Jose Ortiz rides Ichiban from post 3.

Rice also sends out Portage, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tonalist who won a seven-furlong maiden race July 28 at Saratoga before finishing second going six furlongs Aug. 16 at Saratoga.

“I’ve been kind of wanting to run her at a mile all along, just haven’t had the opportunity to do so,” Rice said. “She should be good at a mile as well.”

The New York-bred Cupid’s Heart, trained by Bruce Levine, has been a beaten favorite three of the last four times she’s run. She has been effective from off the pace lately, finishing third and second in her two most recent tires, giving Levine some hope she can get the mile.

“The way she’s been running, it looks like she’ll go a mile but sometimes they fool ya,” Levine said.

Mongolian Panther, trained by David Jacobson, was beaten a head while finishing three lengths clear of Cupid’s Heart on Aug. 30.

Pure Pauline, a daughter of Curlin, makes her 3-year-old debut in this spot for trainer Todd Pletcher. Pure Pauline went 1 for 3 as a 2-year-old and has not run since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs. That day, she finished a half-length behind Pretty Mischievous, who has developed into the leading 3-year-old filly in the country this year.

Pletcher said he had entered Pure Pauline in a few spots elsewhere that didn’t fill and winds up in a big field here.

“The filly should improve with more racing and more distance, but this is a starting point,” Pletcher said.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Pure Pauline from the rail.

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. entered the pair of Sa Fordada and Fancy Azteca in here. Sa Fordada won a starter allowance going a mile at Saratoga before finishing fourth four days later in the same allowance in which Cupid’s Heart finished third. Fancy Azteca, claimed for $40,000 on July 2, was pulled up and vanned off out of an allowance on Aug. 9 at Saratoga.

Toned Up, Sweet Mystery, Good Penny, and Mia Bea Star complete the field.

First post at Aqueduct, beginning Thursday, moves to 12:35 p.m.

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