Isabelle at another level for Top Flight

Isabelle is coming off a highly successful inner-track campaign at Aqueduct and will be heavily favored to keep rolling when she moves to the more sweeping turns of the main surface Sunday in the Grade 3 Top Flight Invitational, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares.

A 6-year-old New York-bred mare trained by Bill Mott, Isabelle is in the best, and most consistent, form of her career. She defeated Super Surprise over the inner track in the Bay Ridge and then finished second to that rival in the Biogio’s Rose – both for statebreds. Super Surprise is a winner of 4 of 9 starts, including three stakes, all in the New York-bred ranks.

Most recently, Isabelle dominated the $150,000 Heavenly Prize by 12 lengths, scoring her first stakes win over open company.

Isabelle’s last three Beyer Speed Figures are markedly better than any she previously earned, and her 102 in the Heavenly Prize towers over the figures of her five Sunday rivals.

“That race the other day was like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ ” Mott said. “I understand it wasn’t like Zenyatta was behind her.”

The Heavenly Prize was odd in that nobody besides Isabelle appeared to run that well. Genre, who finished second, is a graded stakes winner who has made eight consecutive stakes starts, but she turned in an unusual race. Closest to Isabelle early, she dropped back to fourth on the far turn and then finished willingly to be second while passing apparently tired rivals.

Isabelle will face a tougher challenge Sunday. Mo’ Green, who will be making her first start for John Servis, is coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park for her previous trainer, Joe Orseno.

Winter, who is based at Laurel Park, has won 4 of 5 starts, including two stakes, since moving to the barn of Cal Lynch. And Verve’s Tale won the Grade 3 Comely at the same distance as the Top Flight over the Aqueduct main track in November for Barclay Tagg.

Key Contenders

Isabelle, by Successful Appeal

Last 3 Beyers: 102-92-95

◗ She has gone to the lead in four of her last five starts but could end up stalking longshot Disco Rose in the Top Flight. She won the Biogio’s Rose from off the pace three starts back.

◗ Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for all three of her inner-track starts, retains the mount.

Verve’s Tale, by Tale of Ekati

Last 3 Beyers: 76-93-76

◗ She finished fourth in the Royal Delta but was keen early while coming off a three-month layoff and got hooked up in a pace battle with the eventual winner. Look for a better effort from off the pace Sunday.

Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 87-83-75

◗ Four-year-old is improving with every start. She is still in search of her first stakes victory.

Winter, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 80-77-72

◗ She has looked good in her two recent stakes wins but will be facing tougher here.

“She’s getting better week to week for us,” Lynch said. “She deserves a shot.”

– additional reporting by David Grening