Munnings Express auditions for stakes in seven-furlong try

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Munnings Express will try seven furlongs for the first time in a likely auditioning for a stakes opportunity somewhere when she heads a field of five entered in a multi-conditioned allowance/optional-claiming race Friday at Aqueduct.

Munnings Express, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, has won her last two starts emphatically. On March 15, she won a second-level New York-bred race by five lengths, then came back three weeks later to win a first-level open allowance/optional-claimer by 5 3/4 lengths. Those races were at 6 1/2 and six furlongs, respectively. This will be her first try at seven furlongs in what is the ninth start of her career.

“That’s the way the condition book came up,” trainer Linda Rice said. “Let’s hope that’s not a deal-breaker. She’s improving. She’s a great big, giant filly. I think she’ll be a better 5-year-old than she is a 4-year-old. She reminds me a little bit of La Verdad” – Rice’s champion filly sprinter of 2015 – “in that respect, very big.”

Rice did like the way Munnings Express rated off a strong pace going six furlongs last time. Going seven furlongs “makes it a little more complicated,” Rice said. “How far back will she be? Not that far.”

Jose Lezcano rides Munnings Express from post 4.

Rice also sends out Atarah, a filly who ran into multiple stakes winners Irish Maxima and Nic’s Style in an allowance here on March 21 and finished fourth of five. This looks like a softer spot.

“I thought her last race was a little subpar, hoping she comes with a big effort,” Rice said.

Flavien Prat rides from post 3.

Limes Don’t Lie, unraced since capturing a first-level allowance at Saratoga last Aug. 9, makes her return to the races for Chad Brown.

All Class, claimed two starts back by Rick Dutrow off Linda Rice, and Artemis Sound, a first-level allowance winner for Todd Pletcher last out, complete the field.

This race goes as the opener on the eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m.

:: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

Dry Powder back in eight days

Dry Power, who finished ninth of 10 in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 1, will wheel back in eight days in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Ruffian is a one-turn mile, the configuration of Dry Powder’s allowance win at Gulfstream Park on March 12. The La Troienne was run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns.

“A one-turn mile is probably her ideal distance and trip,” trainer Chad Summers said Wednesday. “I’m probably an idiot who should have run here in the first place and not gone to Churchill.”

Summers said he was expecting a faster pace in the La Troienne than the 48.54-second half-mile and 1:12.36 six-furlong fractions put up in that race.

Kazushi Kimura, who has never competed at Aqueduct, has the call on Dry Powder. He rode Full Count Felicia to victory in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor in 2024 for Summers and owner Al Gold.

Meanwhile, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Wednesday he does plan to run all three of his entrants in the Ruffian – Eunomia, Dazzling Move, and Ultimate Authority. Joseph said that Sahin Civaci will ride Eunomia, second in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare. Tyler Gaffalione was named, but he has riding engagements at Churchill that day.

Talk to Me Jimmy to stay home

Talk to Me Jimmy, who had been mentioned as a possible starter in the Preakness Stakes, will stay home to run in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Wednesday.

Talk to Me Jimmy won the Withers Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct in February before finishing eighth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4.

Rodriguez said the opportunity to stay home against a smaller field made the Peter Pan “a better spot, much easier spot” than the Preakness.

“I think we fit pretty good here,” Rodriguez.

Bull by the Horns, the Rushaway Stakes winner, will scratch from the Peter Pan. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said the horse missed an important workout last weekend due to bad weather in South Florida. He will work this weekend with the possibility of him running in the Preakness at Laurel Park on May 16.

Trendsetter, the Grade 3 Lexington winner, Azam, Growth Equity, and Gulfy are also in the Peter Pan.

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