Mei Ling back at proper level for Ladies Handicap
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After competing in graded stakes in her last two starts, Mei Ling might find the company more to her liking Sunday at Aqueduct when she runs in the listed $100,000 Ladies Handicap.
The Ladies is being run for the 144th time. Once upon a time, it was one of the more prestigious route races for fillies and mares on this circuit. At least 10 winners of this race have had graded stakes named in their honor. This year, the Ladies has been shortened to a mile and 70 yards.
Three starts back, Mei Ling won the Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Park, a listed race at 1 1/16 miles. Following that, she was ambitiously placed in the Grade 1 Spinster, where she chased a strong early pace and faded to eighth.
Eight weeks later, Mei Ling ran a respectable second to odds-on favorite Taris in the Grade 3 Go for Wand, a one-turn-mile race.
“I think we were just second-best that day,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “She seems to handle two turns. I think the farther she goes, the better, it seems. She’s a big filly, and stretching out definitely helps.”
There is rain in the forecast for Sunday, and a wet track seems likely. In May 2014, when in the barn of Mike Hushion, Mei Ling won a one-mile maiden race by 5 3/4 lengths in the mud.
Three of Mei Ling’s opponents are New York-bred stakes winners. Saythreehailmary’s won the Bay Ridge Stakes last out and is 3 for 4 over a wet track. Wonder Gal, third in the Grade 3 Comely last out, won the Empire Distaff two starts back. Sheriffa finished second in the Bay Ridge but won the Critical Eye at Belmont in May.
Ladies Handicap, Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Mei Ling (Last 3 Beyers: 89-66-84)
◗ Prior to running in a pair of graded stakes, Mei Ling won two straight two-turn races, rating nicely off slow early paces. She could find more speed to sit off in this spot with Sheriffa and Sustainable in the field.
“She’s very rateable and easy to get along with,” Hughes said.
Wonder Gal (Last 3 Beyers: 83-89-65)
◗ Trainer Leah Gyarmati felt Wonder Gal was pinned down on the inside for too long in the Grade 3 Comely, where she was beaten 7 1/2 lengths by Forever Unbridled and Carrumba.
“She got into a spot where she had nowhere to go until it was too late,” Gyarmati said. “I thought she ran fine; she galloped out by everybody. She’s just so big, she needs to be clear.”
◗ Gyarmati has won with 6 of 18 starters at the inner-track meet.
Saythreehailmary’s (Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-82)
◗ Improved her inner-track record to 2-1-2 from six starts when defeating Sheriffa in the Bay Ridge Stakes. Got eight pounds from Sheriffa that day and only gets one from her Sunday.
◗ Is 3 for 4 over wet tracks, including a win going a mile and 70 yards over a muddy inner track last February.