Lasting Legacy can regroup in allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There were not enough entries for the $100,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes to be carded Sunday as scheduled, so the featured event on the nine-race card is a strong second-level allowance race featuring two horses trying to bounce back from disappointing stakes tries.

Lasting Legacy, a 4-year-old owned by Gary and Mary West, was most impressive winning his first two starts, one last July and one in October. On Nov. 20, Lasting Legacy stepped into stakes company for the first time and finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite in the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes at Mahoning Valley.

Trainer Jason Servis said he has “no idea” why Lasting Legacy didn’t run well that day. However, he did say it took awhile for the horse to come around after that race.

“He wasn’t doing good,” said Servis. “I was going to put him on a van and send him to Palm Meadows.”

Then, said Servis, assistant trainer Henry Argueta called him one morning and said “that horse is doing a lot better.”

“Then he had a couple of good breezes, so I decided to leave him there and here we are,” he said.

Lasting Legacy will be attempting a mile for the first time, but his performance winning a first-level allowance race going seven furlongs at Belmont in October indicates an additional furlong should not be an issue.

“With his pedigree, he should get a mile no problem,” Servis said. “Though if you look at him, he looks like a sprinter.”

Among Lasting Legacy’s opponents is Carradine, a New York-bred son of Grasshopper who has not raced since finishing fourth as the odds-on favorite in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel last April 22. Trainer Linda Rice said that Carradine underwent minor surgery shortly thereafter and also went through an estate sale.

“He’s probably going to need a race,” Rice said.

T R Crew, a sharp winner two back, and Gift Box, a runner-up in this condition three straight times, are also contenders in this field of seven.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lasting Legacy, by Tapizar
Last 3 Beyers: 82-99-86

◗ Put in a good-looking half-mile workout over the Belmont training track in 48.93 seconds on Jan. 25, with a solid five-furlong gallop-out of 1:02.00.

T R Crew, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 86-98-89

◗ Was very sharp winning a first-level allowance race here on Dec. 10, earning a career-best Beyer of 98.

◗ Regressed when fourth in this condition over a muddy track on Jan. 13.

“He didn’t breeze quite as well for that race, and at the quarter pole I wish I hadn’t [run],” trainer David Donk said. “It wasn’t my intention to run him here, but I like the way he breezed [Thursday].”

Gift Box, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 99-91-91

◗ A beaten favorite in five consecutive races, he lost by only a head to Harlan Punch in this condition on Dec. 23, his first race with blinkers.

◗ Hot-riding Kendrick Carmouche replaces the now Florida-based Javier Castellano.