Litfin's review: Shipping money

Sunday, April 27 review

GETAWAY DAY TRENDS AT THE BIG A

The main track played honestly on the 23rd and final day of Aqueduct’s spring meet, with three of eight races won wire to wire, including an easy score by Henry’s Gal in the filly division of the $100,000 New York Stallion for 3-year-olds.

Henry’s Gal ($3) was allowed to coast along through snail-like splits of 24.13 and 47.50 seconds, and was never challenged while drifting out beneath Cornelio Velasquez.

Henry’s Gal ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.70, and earned a 78 Beyer Figure for her fourth win in five starts, and second straight since claimed for $75,000 by Rudy Rodriguez.

In the earlier male division, Loki’s Vengeance ($2.90) ran down 2-1 second choice Empire Dreams for an ultra-chalky $4.40 exacta, running the same distance in 1:16.80 and receiving a career-best 89 Beyer for Mike Hushion. “We’ll see how he comes out of this and what’s there, whether we’ll look at the Mike Lee (May 31) or something else,” said Hushion, who put the finishing touches on a solid 6-for-18 meet.

VYJACK IS BACK

Vyjack ($2.70) made a successful return to the races, overtaking a fast pace set by the multiple stakes winner Royal Currier – who was also making his seasonal debut – to capture his four-other-than allowance condition for Rodriguez.

Sidelined since last year’s Haskell, Vyjack ran seven furlongs in 1:22.24 and matched his career Beyer top of 96.

“I was very happy with what I saw,” said Rodriguez. “I was a little concerned on the backside, because Royal Currier is a tough horse to beat when he’s on the lead. My horse likes to wait for horses, but having another horse as a target was good for him.”

The immediate goal for Vyjack is the $1.25 million Met Mile on June 7.

STONE-COLD EXACTA

It wasn’t pretty, but bettors who managed to come up with Share’n Stone ($24.80) over 10-1 shot Nurse Stone in race 5 cashed for an exacta worth $184.50.

Share’n Stone, a 4-year-old filly by Bustin Stones, prevailed by a head in the bottom-level maiden claiming sprint for New York-breds, recording a 39 Beyer, which was higher than her first two starts this year combined.

Nurse Stone, by Stonesider, narrowly missed after checking soon after the start.

HORSES TO WATCH

SISTER MARGARET
Trainer: Nicholas Esler
Last race: April 27, 7th
Finish: 1st by 1 1/4
Beyer: 71

Three-year-old filly by Pulpit out of the multiple-stakes-winning mare Dance Gal Dance was off a step slowly, in a crowd and shuffled back heading to the turn, circled five wide, and sustained a long run to win with the rider looking back for competition late.