Isabelle returns off extended layoff in featured allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thursday’s $69,000 second-level allowance sprint at Aqueduct for fillies and mares isn’t restricted to New York-breds. It just looks that way.

Four of the seven fillies and mares entered in the six-furlong race are New York-breds, including the stakes winner Isabelle, who returns to the races off a five-month layoff and for a new trainer.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was given Isabelle by owner William Schettine, who cut ties last fall with his private trainer, Lisa Lewis. For Lewis, Isabelle won 3 of 6 starts, including the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont on May 31. After an unsuccessful try in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont in June, Isabelle won a statebred second-level allowance race by 4 1/4 lengths in August, her most recent start.

Transferred to Mott in September, Isabelle has breezed eight times since late November, including a bullet half-mile in 48.05 seconds over the Belmont training track last Saturday.

“We wanted to run her last month, but they didn’t use the race,” said Leanna Willaford, New York-based assistant to Mott.

Isabelle, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post 6, will face fellow New York-breds Blithely, Atlantic’s Smile, and Make the Moment.

Key contenders

Isabelle (Last 3 Beyers: 73-65-84)

* She has won 3 of 6 starts, including the Bouwerie Stakes last summer.

* Though she hasn’t run since August, Isabelle was ready to run a few weeks ago, according to Willaford, who said she and Mott were trying to get the filly a prep race for the $100,000 Broadway Stakes on Feb. 14.

“She’s been very forward in her training,” Willaford said. “She should run well.”

Atlantic’s Smile (Last 3 Beyers: 91-65-73)

* Coming off a powerful 5 3/4-length victory in an open first-level allowance Dec. 12, she was entered in the Interborough Stakes but subsequently scratched.

“I wanted to put her in a spot where I thought she could win,” trainer Charlton Baker said. “I thought she could get caught up in a speed duel in that race, and I didn’t want to do that to her.”

* There does seem to be other speed in here, including Isabelle and Laguna Girl.

Make the Moment (Last 3 Beyers: 83-89-72)

* She has lost her last eight starts but was beaten only a nose in this same condition over the main track Nov. 26.

“She’s a grinder; she comes with a run,” said Baker, who owns and trains Make the Moment. “If the pace goes too fast, she could get there. She’ll run her race.”

Blithely (Last 3 Beyers: 86-72-84)

* Is 4 for 4 at the six-furlong distance and 0 for 3 at other distances.

* Has won three of her last four starts, her lone loss in that span coming in a one-turn mile allowance Nov. 29, when she tried to close on a speed-favoring track.