Miss Brazil gets back in the game in Aqueduct allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Miss Brazil hope to use a third-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race Friday at Aqueduct as a stepping-stone back to stakes company for the filly who makes her first start in nine months in this six-furlong race.

Miss Brazil, a daughter of Palace Malice, won the Ruthless Stakes in February 2021 and came within a half-length of subsequent Kentucky Oaks runner-up Search Results in the Busher Stakes that March. Following an allowance at Belmont in April, Miss Brazil was third as the 4-5 favorite in the Jersey Girl Stakes on June 6. The runner-up from that race, Bella Sofia, won the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom last year.

Miss Brazil finished fifth of sixth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10 at Belmont and went to the sidelines with ankle issues.

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“Her ankles were pinching her, she was not right,” trainer Tony Dutrow said. “We stopped, gave her plenty of time, and she’s come back better than ever.”

Miss Brazil has had a steady series of workouts, including a half-mile in 47.45 seconds out of the gate over Belmont Park’s main track on April 10 and a three-furlong blowout in 35.63 on Monday.

“She’s better than ever,” Dutrow said. “She’s extremely sound and moving better than she’s ever moved. If everything goes as expected, if she breaks okay, I wouldn’t have any excuses with her whatsoever.”

Miss Brazil does have the rail and will likely be forced to use her speed from there under Eric Cancel. There is other speed, including Oxana and Dealing Justice. Dealing Justice is from the barn of Ray Handal, who also sends out Rossa Veloce in this spot.

Rossa Veloce is coming off a 4 1/2-length win here in a second-level allowance. Handal was initially planning to come back in the same condition but opted to run here to help this race fill. Still, the race could very well set up for her.

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“Ideally, I’d love to have another week with her, then I’d really feel good about it, but when these fillies get in good form like that you kind of got to keep rolling with it,” Handal said. “I don’t know if she’s good enough, but we’ll find out.”

Dealing Justice defeated Rossa Veloce here March 4, going gate to wire under Dylan Davis, who is aboard Friday.

“Dealing Justice is a need-the-lead type,” Handal said. “With an outside post, if she doesn’t break and get on top, hopefully she can get in a comfortable position where she’s not being pressed.”

Halo City is skipping a condition by going in this spot. She did come from off the pace to win a first-level allowance going a one-turn mile here last November. Most recently, she finished third behind Rossa Veloce on March 31, her first start off a 102-day layoff.