Lucille Ball won her career debut by 5 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct on Nov. 8, 2024 and hasn’t been seen in the afternoon since. Friday, 14 months after that dazzling debut, Lucille Ball returns to the races in a first-level allowance race that serves as the feature on Friday’s eight-race Aqueduct card. Regarding the layoff, trainer Chris Englehart, you got some ’splainin’ to do. “She needed surgery on her knee, had to do it twice,” Englehart explained. “She has her issues but she’s training real good.” Englehart said he has always been high on Lucille Ball, cleverly named as she is out of the dam Sassy Redhead, an apt description of the late actress best known for her character in “I Love Lucy.” The daughter of Lord Nelson was purchased for $100,000 out of the 2024 OBS March 2-year-old-in-training sale. Englehart said he was only slightly surprised by Lucille Ball’s debut where she stalked the pace three wide, took control in midstretch and, despite drifting in toward the rail, drew clear. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “I know when Adam [Wachtel] purchased her at the sale, she had a really good breeze,” Englehart said. “She was very well meant. A little soft-boned, but a lot of talent. Knock on wood, she’s good now.” Lucille Ball had four works this spring before requiring that second surgery to remove a knee chip. She shows seven workouts including a bullet five-furlong move in 59 seconds from the gate on Dec. 21 at Belmont Park. “I had my doubts she’d make it back, she’s been very forward, doing well; we’re hopeful she’ll stay good for awhile,” Englehart said. She’s a very talented horse. You don’t know what you’re going to have when you’re off that long and they’ve had issues but she’s trained as good as before so we’ll see.” Hay Evabody, who finished third behind Lucille Ball, just won her maiden on Dec. 6 at Fair Grounds for Brendan Walsh. Manny Franco rides Lucille Ball from post 6 in this nine-horse field. Waveless, like Lucille Ball, has made just one start, though hers came just a month ago as she won a seven-furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths. As the lone first-time starter in a field of six, Waveless was involved in a protracted stretch duel with Formaggio, making her sixth start, and pulled away from that one under Kendrick Carmouche. Waveless is trained by Todd Pletcher, as is Danzit, who turns back to 6 1/2 furlongs after making her last three starts at 1 1/8 miles around two turns. Hue, trained by Horacio De Paz, is coming off a starter allowance win from a stalking position with blinkers added last out. She has the outside post and should be able to work out a stalking trip under Jaime Rodriguez. Romantic Dancer won twice at Keeneland in an eight-day span in October before finishing fifth in a starter allowance at Churchill for trainer Rick Dutrow. She will be reunited with Flavien Prat, who won on her two back at Keeneland. Adeliese’s Smile, Practical Lov, Sarir, and Wild Mama complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.