Joya Real, Aquinnah avoid division leader in Blue Sparkler
Neither Joya Real or Aquinnah ran particularly well in the Klassy Briefcase Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 12, but they both had an excuse that day. Her name is Lady Shipman.
Trained by Kathleen O’Connell, Lady Shipman has developed into the leading 3-year-old filly turf sprinter in the East. She was powerful in beating older fillies and mares in the Klassy Briefcase and has since made short work of her own age group in the Coronation Cup at Saratoga. Now 7 for 9, Lady Shipman is undefeated in grass races of 5 1/2 furlongs or shorter, and nobody knows for sure just how high her ceiling is.
Fortunately for Joya Real and Aquinnah, Lady Shipman is sitting out the $60,000 Blue Sparkler at Monmouth on Saturday.
The 6-year-old Joya Real has taken her game to a new level since being moved to turf by trainer Kathleen DeMasi last summer. Usually a deep closer, she showed much more speed than usual while chasing Lady Shipman in the Klassy Briefcase, then lacked her usual closing punch and finished third.
Look for her to settle early and finish stronger in the 5 1/2-furlong Blue Sparkler. Parx-based rider Roberto Alvarado Jr. will be aboard for the first time.
Aquinnah, 7, has been a nice $20,000 claim for trainer Jane Cibelli. Since being taken, she has won a starter allowance and the Sunset Stakes at Gulfstream Park and finished in a dead heat for third in The Very One Stakes at Pimlico. She steadied momentarily off a rival’s heels nearing the stretch of the Klassy Briefcase while making her first start in eight weeks and should improve Saturday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Joya Real (Last 3 Beyers: 80-93-91)
◗ She has started only twice this year. In her season debut, she finished fast to be second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Ageless, in The Very One Stakes. Ageless has since set a course record of 1:07.17 on the Woodbine turf while winning the Grade 3 Royal North for the second year in a row.
Aquinnah (Last 3 Beyers: 72-91-84)
◗ Because of her win in the Sunset Stakes, she is the 124-pound highweight and will concede seven to 12 pounds to her eight rivals.
Aireofdistinction (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-54)
◗ She completed a David Jacobson-trained exacta when second to Room for Me in the six-furlong Regret Stakes at Monmouth last out.
◗ This will be her first turf start in two years. She finished a competitive third in two Saratoga grass sprints vs. maiden company in 2013.
Knit One Purr Too (Last 3 Beyers: 84-77-71)
◗ Claimed for $62,500 in her 4-year-old debut two starts back by trainer Joe Sharp, she seems a better filly than at 3.
◗ She ran well when third in the Brandywine at Indiana Grand most recently. The winner, Richies Sweetheart, is 11 for 22 and has won three of her last four starts. Runner-up Anusara came into the Brandywine off a first-level allowance win at Churchill Downs.