Miss Matzoball stretches out in Monday allowance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – To fulfill a minimum-dates requirement, there is live racing at Aqueduct on Monday, a nine-race card topped by a $69,000 first-level allowance race for fillies and mares going a mile on turf. Ten were entered, but that includes three who would run only if the race were to be transferred to the main track, which, given the forecast, is unlikely.
Miss Matzoball, a 3-year-old New York-bred daughter of Smoke Glacken, has returned from a lengthy layoff with two good efforts, including a 3 3/4-length victory in a New York-bred first-level allowance race Oct. 24. She is taking on open company and stretching out to a mile for the first time.
Iromea shipped here from Europe for the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont on Sept. 12, but she trailed behind a slow pace and made little impact, finishing seventh, beaten 9 1/4 lengths. She has remained in the U.S. and will make her first start for trainer Christophe Clement.
Indian Starlight, a 6-year-old mare, makes her first start in five months and her first start for trainer Ray Handal.
KEY CONTENDERS
Miss Matzoball (Last 3 Beyers: 78-74-77)
◗ Came off a 10-month layoff with a solid second-place finish, beaten a nose, in an off-the-turf allowance race going six furlongs at Belmont on Sept. 30. Off that race, she took advantage of a hot pace to win a six-furlong New York-bred allowance on turf Oct. 24 by 3 3/4 lengths.
◗ Stretching out for the first time here, Miss Matzoball could be the main speed in a race that seems void of early foot.
Iromea (Last Beyer: 78)
◗ Had the outside post, broke slowly, and had no pace to run at when finishing seventh in the Sands Point.
◗ Has worked four times over the Belmont turf course, though most of the breezes were on the slow side.
◗ Lone win came going 1 1/4 miles.
Indian Starlight (Last 3 Beyers: 74-78-73)
◗ Returns from a six-month layoff in a new barn after racing in south Florida during the first half of the year.
◗ Trainer Handal said he’s had her for two months, and she’s “as close to ready as I could have her.” Though Handal said he believes Indian Starlight wants to go a little farther in distance, he said she’ll be forwardly placed, which might serve her well in a race lacking confirmed front-running types.
Caps’s Vow (Last 3 Beyers: 69-70-61)
◗ Doesn’t possess much early speed, but her last three races since the addition of blinkers have been solid.
◗ On Aug. 22, she won a maiden race at Penn National by six lengths and then came back to run second in her first start against winners for trainer Graham Motion.