Lots of Stones goes for six straight at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A few years ago, owner Roddy Valente and trainer Bruce Levine campaigned the talented but fragile New York-bred colt Bustin Stones through a 6-for-6 career capped by a victory in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April 2008.

Valente and Levine are back with the New York-bred filly Lots of Stones, who on Sunday seeks her sixth consecutive victory – from seven career starts – in an open company second-level allowance race at Aqueduct. Lots of Stones and Bustin Stones are not related.

Lots of Stones, a 4-year-old daughter of Strategic Mission, lost her career debut in a maiden $15,000 claiming race here in February but has reeled off five straight wins since. She went through her New York-bred conditions before winning an open first-level allowance race at Monmouth on Aug. 1.

Following a four-month layoff, Lots of Stones returned to Aqueduct on Dec. 10 to win an open optional claiming race in which she was offered for the $35,000 claiming price. On Sunday, she is not offered for the optional $50,000 claiming tag.

Though she only received a 69 Beyer Speed Figure for her last victory, Lots of Stones overcame a slow start and traffic before finding room at the eighth pole, splitting horses under Ramon Dominguez and charging to a 1 1/4-length victory.

“She threw her head at the start and then she ran into some traffic,” Levine said. “Ramon gave her a great ride.”

Noting that she has only raced six times and several for a claiming price, Levine said Lots of Stones has “got her issues, trust me. She runs through them, but she’s got them. She’s pretty good right now. She’ll probably get beat now that I say that, but she’s doing good.”

Spina who finished fourth to Lots of Stones on Dec. 10 came back to win an open allowance on Dec. 30. She, along with Meridian Mama, a front-running winner at Suffolk three months ago, look to be the speed of the race.

Karakorum Fugitive, who won an open allowance three starts back before getting drilled in a couple of New York-bred stakes, won her career debut sprinting over the inner track two years ago.

Later on the card is a second-level optional claimer featuring Understatement, who just one year ago won the Evening Attire Stakes over the inner track with a 115 Beyer. Now offered for $50,000, Understatement has lost his last two starts since returning from a six-month layoff.