Letmetakethiscall going for fourth straight win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When the Broadway Stakes failed to fill last weekend and without the guarantee of it being brought back for this weekend, trainer Jimmy Ferraro had to find another spot for his streaking mare Letmetakethiscall.

He found one in Thursday’s $88,000 third-level allowance feature where Letmetakethiscall will shoot for her fourth consecutive victory in the seven-furlong race, which serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s eight race-card. First post at Aqueduct for the remainder of the winter meet will be 1:20 p.m.

There is the chance of significant snow on Thursday, which could put the card in jeopardy of being run.

Ferraro claimed Letmetakethiscall for $40,000 last August at Saratoga. Letmetakesthiscall was a late scratch from a race at Belmont in September, and Ferraro didn’t think he had her fit enough when she finished seventh in a second-level New York-bred allowance on Oct. 17.

Since then, however, Letmetakethiscall has reeled off three consecutive victories, first beating New York-breds and then winning two open-company allowances.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

In her victory on Dec. 31, Letmetakethiscall “was really boxed in,” Ferraro said.

“That race kind of impressed me,” he said.

While her three most recent wins have come at six furlongs, Letmetakethiscall did win at seven furlongs the day Ferraro claimed her for $40,000.

“I don’t think it’s a concern as long as she’s conservatively ridden,” Ferraro said.

Letmetakethiscall has won the last three times she’s caught a sloppy or muddy track, a track condition that could be in play Thursday.

Ferraro also entered Dovey Lovey in this spot, and she is in for the $80,000 claiming tag. Ferraro said he was looking for a slightly lesser-caliber field for the 5-year-old daughter of Include, but couldn’t find one.

Portal Creek is back in allowance company after two stakes tries for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero. After getting beat a neck by Sharp Starr in the Grade 3 Go for Wand going a mile here on Dec. 5, Portal Creek finished fourth of sixth as the 4-5 favorite in the Interborough. Portal Creek was not permitted to run on Lasix in that race – all stakes run in New York in 2021 are sans Lasix – but she will be able to run on the anti-bleeding medication on Thursday.

Trainer Linda Rice has the uncoupled pair of Gone Glimmering and Prairie Fire in this spot. Rice claimed Gone Glimmering for $62,500 on Dec. 18 and she won first off the claim going a mile on Feb. 5.

“I thought she ran great,” Rice said. “She likes the mud. If it rains that might help her too.”

Eric Cancel, who recorded his first career four-win day on Sunday, has the call on Gone Glimmering.

Prairie Fire would be skipping a condition if she runs in this spot. She is eligible for a second-level allowance but that race didn’t fill, Rice said.

Timely Tradition, second to Letmetakethiscall on Jan. 18, and Call On Mischief complete the field.