Interborough crucial race for Hot City Girl

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hot City Girl did not pick up the mantle from her Eclipse Award-winning sister, La Verdad, in the filly-and-mare sprint division in 2016. Plagued by foot issues throughout the year, Hot City Girl raced just four times, winning once.

On Sunday in the $100,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct – coincidentally won by La Verdad in 2016 in her career finale – the 5-year-old Hot City Girl will determine her future with how she performs.

“This race will be a tell for us as to whether or not we send her to the breeding shed or we go on with her,” said Linda Rice, who trains Hot City Girl for Sheila Rosenblum.

If Hot City Girl can regain her graded-stakes-winning form of 2015, she likely will continue on. If not, she likely will be retired and bred.

It will not be easy for Hot City Girl in the Interborough. She likely will attempt to wire this field, but there are plenty of other speed types in this race, including Miss Hollywood and Disco Chick, who are drawn in posts 1 and 2. Hot City Girl is drawn in post 4 in the seven-horse field.

The race could set up for a closer, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has two in Clothes Fall Off and Takrees. Clothes Fall Off, who won the Correction Stakes over the inner track 10 months ago, has not run since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 9.

“She needed a little break, no surgery,” McLaughlin said. “She’s come back, is working well, training well. She should run well.”

Takrees most recently finished second in the Safely Kept at Laurel. She has a win and two seconds in three starts over Aqueduct’s inner track.

Burn Control and Miss Away complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Clothes Fall Off, by Daaher

Last 3 Beyers: 79-100-91

◗ Her second in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie and victory in the Correction last winter showed Clothes Fall Off on the improve before she got bumped early and perhaps was overmatched in the Madison.

◗ Breezed a terrific half-mile in 47.78 seconds over the Belmont training track Jan. 14, with a final quarter in 23.72 in a work that was the fastest of 92 recorded at the distance that morning.

◗ Has two wins and a neck loss in three starts over the inner track.

Hot City Girl, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 70-95-79

◗ Most recently ran third as the 2-5 favorite in the Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 10.

“She trained decent into the race in Maryland,” Rice said. “I was a bit disappointed in her effort there. I don’t know if we’ll get her back to her best form at any point.”

Takrees, by Daaher

Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-87

◗ Figures to come with a strong late run, like she did when second in a 13-horse field in the Safely Kept at Laurel on Nov. 19.

◗ Picks up leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and gets six pounds from Hot City Girl and Clothes Fall Off.