Literary Light right at home

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Literary Light is the one to beat when she returns to her favorite surface in a $56,000 money allowance race for filly and mare sprinters Thursday at Aqueduct.

There is a pick six carryover of $25,630.

Also entered in the six-furlong race are Silk Concorde, Lilah, Golden Made, Bonefide Reason, A. P. Andie, and Lights On.

Literary Light, trained by Richard Schosberg Jr., has a record of 3-1-0 in four starts over Aqueduct's main track. Her record at six furlongs is also solid - 6-4-2 in 13 starts. Her career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94 came at Aqueduct.

Another factor in Literary Light's favor is that she will face softer company than she met in her last two starts, the Grade 3 Floral Park and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom. She was well beaten in the Gallant Bloom, but ran third behind Bauhauser and Shine Again in the Floral Park.

"She seems to do her best running over the main track at Aqueduct," said Schosberg, who trains Literary Light for Two Kings Stable. "She was overmatched in her last race and didn't have the best trip."

John Velazquez is reunited with Literary Light, who drew post 3.

Literary Light, Silk Concorde, and Golden Made all possess early speed.

Silk Concorde, who has never raced at Aqueduct, is 2 for 4 over wet tracks, and rain is in the forecast.

Silk Concorde's last effort - a fifth-place finish - should be forgiven because it was her first start on turf. It also was her first start since July 16, and she has a history of firing big in her second start off the bench.

Jose Santos rides Silk Concorde, trained by Stan Hough, from post 5.

If a speed duel develops, the race could set up for Lights On, who closed into a fast pace to win the Light Hearted Handicap at Delaware Park in July.

Lilah was on a roll during the spring and summer, for trainer Allen Jerkens. She won three consecutive starts, including an allowance race at Aqueduct on April 18. Like Silk Concorde, Lilah flopped in her turf debut, on Oct. 13.

Bonefide Reason, who hasn't won since November 2002, last ran in June. She worked a bullet three furlongs in 35.47 seconds at Belmont Saturday, the fastest of 16 moves at the distance.

A.P. Andie is 0 for 5 over Aqueduct's main track. She won the Correction Handicap at 52-1 on the inner track in February.