Khaleesi Kat one to beat if allowance stays on turf
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A pair of first-level allowance races restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares – one scheduled for the turf, one on dirt, and both with large fields – highlights Thursday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.
Though it is supposed to be dry Thursday, upward of a half-inch of rain was forecast for Wednesday in the Metropolitan area, putting turf racing in jeopardy.
The sixth race is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. If it remains on turf, Khaleesi Kat looms the one to beat coming off a runner-up finish in starter-allowance races each of her last two starts. Weekend Score ran a very good second last time she raced on turf, just ahead of Ten Penny Princess, who also is in the field. If the race is moved off the turf, it will be contested at a mile on the dirt, and Roman Reign likely would be the one to beat.
In the eighth, a field of 11 is set to contest six furlongs on the main track.
Golden Gem, second at this condition last out, and Beating Heart Baby, a 6 3/4-length maiden winner off an 11-month layoff, head the field.
Race 6
Key contenders
Khaleesi Kat (Last 3 Beyers: 77-77-75)
* Lasix, blinkers, and softer company have resulted in a win, two seconds, and a third in four turf starts for this daughter of Afleet Alex trained by Bill Mott.
* Had a good trip and was merely second-best to C d’Cat for this condition Nov. 8.
* Lone win came at 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga back in July.
Weekend Score (Last 3 Beyers: 69-71-75)
* Only start for this condition came two back when leaving from the outside post. She went to her nose at the break yet chased a 1-5 winner home while getting second by a neck.
* Comes off a fourth-place finish in an off-the-turf race here just 13 days ago.
* Javier Castellano, aboard for a second-place finish three starts back, has the mount.
Ten Penny Princess (Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-61)
* Finished third two back, a neck behind Weekend Score, in her first try against winners following an even-money score in a maiden $40,000 claimer.
Race 8
Key contenders
Golden Gem (Last 3 Beyers: 71-69-71)
* Has been trying to clear this condition since beginning her career with a good-looking debut win over a good main track going 6 1/2 furlongs.
* Beaten three-quarters of a length Nov. 8, when she raced between horses before altering course to the inside as the eventual winner began to drift out in the stretch.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Golden Gem. Trainer Rick Violette is 23-2-5-1 with a $0.35 ROI over the past five years with jockey Javier Castellano aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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* Beating Heart Baby (Last 3 Beyers: 74-52-51)
Lived up to her even-money status when crushing maidens going seven furlongs in first start since last New Year’s Eve and first for trainer Michelle Nevin.
* Women Win (Last 3 Beyers: 39-83-73)
Got used up in a hot pace duel as a 37-1 shot in the Iroquois Stakes, her first start off a two-month layoff and first since beating maidens by 11 1/4 lengths at Saratoga.
Will likely be on the lead again breaking from the rail under Junior Alvarado.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Moondance Joy. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 16-5-1-3 with a $5.39 ROI over the past two years going turf to dirt in sprints on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan