Indulgent coming into her own for Thursday allowance sprint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had options when it came to determining his lineup for last Sunday’s $100,000 Interborough Stakes. He obviously chose wisely as Takrees rallied from last to get up and win the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.

Takrees had been eligible for Thursday’s feature at Aqueduct – a second-level allowance race – and McLaughlin will be represented by Indulgent in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares. Indulgent, a 4-year-old half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted, brings a two-race winning streak into Thursday’s feature.

Indulgent was a horse prone to tying up – a term used for a horse suffering muscle cramps – early in her career. Perhaps that played a role in Indulgent losing her first two starts.

Coming off a two-month layoff Oct. 4 at Parx Racing, Indulgent prompted the pace in winning a six-furlong maiden race by three lengths. She returned to New York five weeks later and rallied from last in a five-horse field to win a first-level allowance race by 1 1/4 lengths over Aqueduct’s main track.

“She’s been extremely good, especially the last couple of months,” said Joe Lee, McLaughlin’s Belmont-based assistant.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Indulgent to her victories for McLaughlin and Godolphin, has the call Thursday.

The allowance feature goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that has a pick six carryover of $26,713.

KEY CONTENDERS

Indulgent, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-78

◗ She figures to stalk the pace from post 8 of nine.

“If they go, we can sit where we want to be,” Lee said.

◗ All six fillies she defeated in the Oct. 4 maiden race at Parx have come back to win. Malibu Princess, who finished last in Indulgent’s Nov. 10 allowance win, came back to clear her first-level condition last Friday.

Play Unified, by Exchange Rate

Last 3 Beyers: 79-68-72

◗ The 4-year-old has won two of three career starts. Her most recent race, a Dec. 29 win over Malibu Princess, came with blinkers and Lasix added and over a speed-favoring inner track.

◗ Could be the fastest of the early-speed types in this field.

Burn Control, by Bernstein

Last 3 Beyers: 55-73-79

◗ Turns back from a mile to a sprint and drops out of a last-place finish in Grade 3 Go for Wand here on Dec. 3.

◗ Scratched out of the Interborough for this.

◗ Has three seconds and a third in four starts at six furlongs.

Ultimate Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday

Last 3 Beyers: 68-70-74

◗ Has been transferred to Michelle Nevin after going 2 for 18 in Southern California for Richard Baltas.

◗ Bad Ju Ju beat Ultimate Holiday last Nov. 24 at Del Mar, and she came back to win a listed stakes in her next start.