Morning Matcha improving just in time for Gazelle
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morning Matcha began her career last June at Monmouth Park, and the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Central Banker has been a gal on the go ever since. Saturday, the Parx Racing-based filly returns to New York for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes trying to earn a spot in the Kentucky Oaks on May 6.
The Gazelle will be Morning Matcha’s 10th start and her third trip to Aqueduct. On Dec. 18, she finished second to Yo Cuz in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series. She came back to Aqueduct to run second to Magic Circle in the Busanda Stakes. In her most recent start, she won the Main Line Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths over three rivals at her home base of Parx on March 8.
“Each race is better than the last,” trainer Butch Reid said. “She’s putting on weight, maturing even though she’s had a lot of racing.”
Reid sees Morning Matcha as a horse who will relish longer distances such as the 1 1/8 miles of the Gazelle and Oaks.
Frankie Pennington will be up from Parx to ride.
Venti Valentine, the seven-length Busher winner, is likely to be favored in the Gazelle, which offers its top four finishers points (100-40-20-10) to the Oaks. Caragate, Classy Edition, Greatitude, Divine Huntress, Nostalgic, and Shotgun Hottie complete the Gazelle field.