Marley's Freedom tries a mile in Go for Wand

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Marley’s Freedom looks to make amends for her loss as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint while experimenting with a longer distance when she runs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct.

After being transferred to trainer Bob Baffert this summer, Marley’s Freedom reeled off three consecutive wins – stretching her win streak to four – including a dominant 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.

Baffert simply trained Marley’s Freedom up to the Breeders’ Cup where, breaking from post 13 of 14, she raced wide throughout and didn’t have the necessary late kick while finishing fourth, a half-length behind upset winner Shamrock Rose.

Baffert brought Marley’s Freedom back to Southern California where she trained well enough to make another cross-country ship, Baffert said.

“She came out of it really well,” Baffert said. “I’ve been wanting to stretch her out a little bit. I thought this would be a good spot for her.”

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Both the Ballerina and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint were at seven furlongs. The Go for Wand will be Marley’s Freedom’s first start at a mile.

Marley’s Freedom will break from the rail under Mike Smith and high weight of 124 pounds. She is conceding 2 to 14 pounds to her seven rivals.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out the uncoupled entry of Pacific Wind and Your Love against Marley’s Freedom. Pacific Wind will be cutting back to a one-turn mile after losses in two 1 1/8-mile races around two turns. She won the Grade 2 Ruffian, a one-turn mile race at Belmont in May.

“I think this type of trip is good for her,” Brown said.

Your Love will be trying one mile for the first time. She won the Shine Again going seven furlongs at Saratoga. Most recently, her five-wide rally in the stretch fell a half-length shy of an inside rallying Union Strike in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at 6 1/2 furlongs.

“That was a good filly that won the race,” Brown said. “I was happy with her effort. She acts like she can get the mile.”

There appears to be plenty of speed in the Go for Wand with the 3-year-old Sower and the 4-year-old Come Dancing in the field.

Sower has won stakes at six and seven furlongs and is also trying a mile for the first time. She won the seven-furlong Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Belmont by 5 1/4 lengths in her first start against older horses last out.

“It’s a tough spot, but we want to give her a chance,” trainer Linda Rice said. “I was pretty pleased with her last effort.”

Bonita Bianca, winner of the Empire Distaff for New York-breds last out, and longshots Browse and Tigalalu complete the field.