Lady Montdore has class edge in Long Island

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Lady Montdore didn’t do quite enough in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl last month to warrant a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. As a Grade 2 winner earlier this year, Lady Montdore will be the most accomplished of the 11 fillies and mares entered to run 1 3/8 miles on turf in Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct.

Lady Montdore, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Godolphin Racing, went 1 for 5 in Europe when in the barn of Andre Fabre. This year, she has raced in the U.S. for trainer Tom Albertrani, winning an allowance race and the Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga before finishing third to Fourstar Crook in the Flower Bowl at Belmont.

Lady Montdore didn’t have the smoothest of trips in the Flower Bowl. On at least two occasions, Manny Franco moved Lady Montdore into contention while in between horses, only to take a hold.

“Not that she had a bad trip, it was kind of dodgy,” Albertrani said. “She never got in a good rhythm, I thought. She’s been doing really well. I’m hoping she could come back and run like she did at Saratoga.”

Lady Montdore breaks from post 2 and has the speed to be a forward presence in the Long Island.

Trainer Chad Brown, who has won 10 graded turf stakes for females in New York this year, has a trio of runners for the Long Island. Lady Paname, who twice raced against Lady Montdore in Europe – the two took turns finishing in front of the other – came off a 13-month layoff to win an allowance by a nose at Belmont on Oct. 17.

“She seems like she’s training well,” Brown said. “She should move forward.”

Pollara, a Group 3 winner in France this year, made her first start for Brown in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine, finishing sixth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

“She had some trouble, and she didn’t have a clear run in the race,” Brown said. “In hindsight, maybe I should have waited a little longer to run her. More distance will definitely help her.”

Pollara also breaks from the rail. On Saturday, the rails on the outer turf course will be moved from 24 feet off the hedge to nine feet, perhaps giving an edge to horses drawn inside on what should be fresher ground.

Night of England is Brown’s third runner. She went 1 for 7 in Germany and was second in a Group 1 going 1 3/8 miles in August.

“I’ve had her for about six weeks,” Brown said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Jose Ortiz rides Night of England from what should be post 10 provided the race remains on the turf. There are three horses entered to run only if the race is transferred to the main track.

Tricky Escape, who won the Robert G. Dick Memorial at 1 3/8 miles at Delaware, will try to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Flower Bowl.

Completing the field on turf are Danceland, fourth in the Flower Bowl; the Peru-raced Si Que Es Buena; the European import Gipoia; and Mid-Atlantic shippers Golden Attitude and Pamina.

The Long Island, which had its purse doubled from $200,000 a year ago, is one of three stakes on the Saturday card, which includes the Grade 3 Discovery for 3-year-olds and the $125,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lady Montdore, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-91

◗ She is proven over less-than-firm ground and is a two-time winner at 1 3/8 miles, including a front-running score in the slow-paced Glens Falls. The Glens Falls produced two next-out winners as well as Onthemoonagain, the Flower Bowl runner-up.

Pollara, by Camelot
Last 3 Beyers: 95-N/A-N/A

◗ Lightly raced runner was making her first start off a four-month layoff and first in North America in the E.P. Taylor.

◗ She won a Group 3 in France going 1 1/2 miles. The runner-up came back to win a Group 2 in France next out.

Lady Paname, by Solider of Fortune
Last 3 Beyers: 85-N/A-N/A

◗ She was fourth in a Group 2 at Chantilly in September 2017, a race from which runner-up Call to Mind came to the U.S. to win the Belmont Gold Cup earlier this year.

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