Interborough a step toward bigger and better things for Betsy Blue

OZONE PARK, N.Y. –The goal for the ultra-consistent New York-bred mare Betsy Blue in 2023 is a graded stakes victory. Races like the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park in February and the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct in April are potential spots trainer Linda Rice has penciled in to try and get that accomplished.

Saturday, Betsy Blue will prepare for those challenges in the $100,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct. Betsy Blue, first or second in 16 of her 20 starts, figures a prohibitive favorite against five opponents in the seven-furlong race, which Rice won in 2016 with the New York-bred La Verdad.

Betsy Blue, a daughter of Tonalist, is coming off a 1 1/4-length victory in the $116,400 Garland of Roses Stakes at six furlongs on Dec. 18. Betsy Blue has an additional furlong to navigate in the Interborough, but she has a 3-1-1 record from five starts at that distance. Her second-place finish came to presumptive female sprint champion Goodnight Olive at Saratoga.

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Rice said seven-eighths “is fine” for Betsy Blue. “Maybe she’s better at 6 1/2 with a little more pace in front of her, but it’s not like she can’t run seven,” Rice said.

Betsy Blue had two recent hiccups, finishing fourth in the Iroquois for New York-breds and third, beaten eight lengths, in the Grade 3 Go for Wand. But she bounced back with a solid off-the-pace victory in the Garland of Roses.

There should be some pace in the Interborough with Self Isolation, Flight to Shanghai, and possibly Miss T Too candidates to display early speed.

“I’d rather have pace,” Rice said, “but she can lay closer.”

Jose Lezcano rides Betsy Blue from post 5.

Rice will also send out Piece of My Heart, who ended a 17-race winless streak with a decisive two-length victory in a third-level allowance going seven furlongs over a sloppy Aqueduct main track on Jan. 5. Rice likes the seven furlongs for Piece of My Heart, who finished second to Betsy Blue in an allowance at that distance in September.

“I think that distance is better for her,” Rice said. “She’s been a bridesmaid a lot of times, but she’s run against some pretty nice horses.”

Kendrick Carmouche rides Piece of My Heart from post 3.

Self Isolation had a three-race winning streak snapped when she finished last in the Grade 3 Go for Wand. Owner-trainer David Jacobson said he did not have much of an excuse for Self Isolation that day, though it is worth nothing the Go for Wand was her third loss in as many tries without the anti-bleeding medication Lasix. Self Isolation, who breaks from the rail under Dylan Davis Saturday, will not be permitted to race on Lasx in the Interborough.

Flight to Shanghai went 0 for 6 in 2022, finishing the year with a fourth at 72-1 in the Go for Wand. Miss T Too ships in from Kentucky for trainer Michael McCarthy, who won the Jerome Stakes here two weeks ago with Lugan Knight.

The Interborough goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m.

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