My Impression eyes win to start season

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – My Impression lost seven times in 2017, six of those defeats coming to horses trained by Chad Brown. Saturday, when My Impression kicks off her 5-year-old campaign in the $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct, her main competition will be two fillies from the Brown barn.

My Impression, trained by Shug McGaughey, will meet the Brown-trained pair of Uni and Fifty Five in the Plenty of Grace, a one-mile race that drew only a field of five. The Plenty of Grace, run at a mile, goes as race 3 on the nine-race program.

My Impression, a daughter of Sky Mesa, finished fifth to the Brown-trained Light in Paris in this race last year. Her other losses to Brown horses came to Wekeela, Fourstarcrook, Lady Eli, Off Limits, and Penjade.

The loss to Penjade came in the Forever Together Stakes run over Aqueduct’s outer turf last November. My Impression came out on the wrong end of a three-horse photo that included Not Taken, who is also in this field Saturday.

McGaughey, who won last Sunday’s Danger’s Hour with Fire Away, has seen improvement in My Impression over the winter.

“I think she’s had a really good winter,” McGaughey said. “She’s gotten bigger and stronger. She had a good year last year; hoping for bigger and better things this year.”

At 115 pounds, My Impression will be in receipt of eight pounds from both Uni and Fifty Five, who both are returning off six-month layoffs. Uni won the Grade 2 Sands Point last September before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland. Uni was a late addition to the field, as Brown had her earmarked for a different spot for her seasonal debut.

Fifty Five lost her first four starts for Brown after a private purchase last winter, but ended her 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the Ticonderoga for New York-breds at Belmont last October.

“This race is a little short for her in distance, but she wintered well,” Brown said. “Looking forward to getting her campaign kicked off this year.”

Stallion Heiress could play out as the primary speed for trainer Michael Stidham.

KEY CONTENDERS

My Impression, by Sky Mesa
Last 3 Beyers: 96-97-92

◗ When she finished fifth in this race last year, Dylan Davis had her too far back early, according to McGaughey.

◗ Her two career-best speed figures came in losses to end her 4-year-old campaign.

◗ Manny Franco has the call.

Uni, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-93

◗ Encountered some early trouble when fourth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last fall.

◗ May prefer longer distance than she gets in this spot.

Fifty Five, by Get Stormy
Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-85

◗ Regardless of pace she usually comes with a solid late run, but she is more effective with a lively pace in front of her.