Mz Big Bucks center of attention in Statue of Liberty Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mz Big Bucks has gotten little respect from the public, having gone postward at odds of 8-1 and 9-1 while winning her last two starts, including the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series last month at Belmont Park.

But that is not likely to be the case in Wednesday’s finale at Saratoga, with Mz Big Bucks expected to go postward the favorite in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty Stakes to be decided at one mile on the turf, weather permitting, for 3-year-old New York-sired fillies.

Mz Big Bucks, unraced at 2, finished fourth when finally making her first start this spring at Aqueduct before moving forward off the effort to register a pair of gate-to-wire victories at Belmont Park. In the seven-furlong Cupecoy’s Joy, Mz Big Bucks stretched out to seven furlongs for the first time and was in control from the outset under her regular rider, Jose Gomez. She maintained a safe two-length advantage to the wire over the pace-pressing Little Linzee and gave every indication added distance should not be an issue when maintaining that edge over the field galloping out into the clubhouse turn.

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“Obviously, we’re learning as we go along with this filly, and a mile will be another test for her, although I’m not too worried about her getting the extra ground,” said Michelle Nevin, who trains the homebred Mz Big Bucks for J and N Stables. “She’s a very sensible filly and very easy to ride.”

Nevin said she also feels Mz Big Bucks can adjust if she happens to get outrun for the lead in the Statue of Liberty.

“It will probably depend on how she breaks. If she gets the lead naturally, great. If not, Jose will adjust and just let her sit and be comfortable wherever she winds up after the start,” Nevin added.

Mz Big Bucks will have to tote top weight of 123 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Statue of Liberty and will concede five pounds to each of her eight rivals.

The field is a familiar one, with five of the top seven finishers from the Cupecoy’s Joy in the lineup. The group includes second- and third-place runners Little Linzee, who pressed the pace but could not gain on the winner that day, and Red Moon, who figures to be well backed while getting some added distance to work with in her rematch with Mz Big Bucks. Red Moon was defeated less than three lengths after breaking slow, racing wide, and finishing best of all in the pair’s previous encounter.

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The most dangerous of the new faces figures to be Bernt Again. While a mile remains a question mark for the top three finishers from the Cupecoy’s Joy, distance will not be an issue for Bernt Again, who has captured each of her last two starts going a 1 1/16 miles, including a mid-level nonwinners-of-two lifetime open claimer just 17 days earlier at Belmont.

Camp Akeela, Clover Street, Bea Bea Kaz, the recently claimed Queens Over Threes, and Orange Freeze complete the lineup.

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