Mott believes Geopolitics will take to turf in Cupecoy's Joy

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bill Mott is surprised Geopolitics is still a maiden. He won’t be surprised if her first win comes in Friday’s $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

Yes, Aqueduct. Racing is back in Queens for four weeks, or 15 cards, following the raucous Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga last week and before racing returns to Saratoga for its regular summer meet that begins July 11.

Geopolitics, by Central Banker, has twice been beaten in statebred dirt maiden races at short prices. Sent off 8-5 in her debut in February, Geopolitics was beaten a head by City Blocks. Two horses have come out of that race to win.

Geopolitics didn’t run again for three months. She was sent off a 4-5 favorite and finished second to La Banquera while finishing 5 1/2 lengths clear of the field.

Geopolitics is a half-sister to five turf winners and Mott sees other reasons to believe she’ll handle the surface switch.

“My filly’s got a big old turf foot,” Mott said.

Joel Rosario rides from post 2.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

Being Betty is by Weekend Hideaway out of the dam Lady Joan, who won this race in 2017 at Belmont Park. Being Betty is the only member of this eight-horse field to have won on turf. That victory came in a six-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct last September.

Trainer Phil Serpe tried her long in the Tepin Stakes, where she finished fifth. In her first start of this year, Being Betty finished ninth of 10 in a New York-bred first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct.

“I think she’s going to run long, but you got to take advantage of the stallion stake races,” trainer Phil Serpe said. “She did win sprinting, she ran a good race, so that’s why she’s there.”

Serpe noted that in Being Betty’s 3-year-old debut he had to make a rider change from Jose Lezcano to Irad Ortiz Jr. after the former was involved in a spill the previous day.

“Things didn’t go well that day, nothing necessarily to blame, it’s just one of those things,” Serpe said.

Lezcano is back aboard Being Betty on Friday.

My Shea D Lady won the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS in December. In her lone start this year, she finished second in a division of the NYSS to Sunday Girl. This will be the daughter of Solomini’s first start on turf.

“We got to take advantage of the New York Stallion Stakes. This seemed like a really good chance to try her on the grass,” trainer Carlos David said. “These Solominis can run on the grass too. If it comes off [the turf], she’ll be looking really good.”

Sohana, another daughter of Solomini, would be trying the turf for the first time. She is coming off a 2 1/2-length allowance win in the mud on May 10.

Solo Shot ran a solid second in an open allowance on turf two starts back in a race for 3-year-olds and up. Find Your Joy, War Terminatrix, and Naughty Destiny complete the field.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.