Naive Melody returns after almost a year off
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Naive Melody has a terrific pedigree and a ton of talent. Now, she needs to just stay on the racetrack.
Naive Melody, a 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Complexity, makes just her fourth career start in a statebred second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming event that serves as the feature on Sunday’s eight-race Aqueduct program.
Naive Melody, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Domestic Product, has made all of her previous starts at Aqueduct, having defeated fillies in her career debut here in December 2024 and then finishing third behind Bernieandtherose in the East View Stakes in February 2025. Off 11 weeks, Naive Melody defeated males handily in a first-level allowance last April.
Trainer Wesley Ward said “a little of this, a little of that” when asked why Naive Melody has been away from the races for nearly a year. Ward said foot issues were a prevalent reason why he had to stop and start her training.
Now, Ward says Naive Melody is “as sound as new money, breathing fire. She’s a big monster of a horse, time off has really done her well. She did what she did [early on] because she’s talented. This should be her year.”
This should definitely be her race. Naive Melody, with Dylan Davis up, breaks from post 3 in this seven-horse field. Naive Melody is one of several speed types in this field, which could set things up for Lady Angelina, who came from off the pace on Feb. 5 to win a first-level allowance beating next-out winner Howling Wind, who also is in this field.
Howling Wind came out of the runner-up finish to Lady Angelina to win a first-level allowance on Feb. 28 by 7 1/4 lengths, beating Carol T, who came back to win March 21 and is in this field. In her first try in this condition, Howling Wind was fourth to Munnings Express, who came back to beat open company last weekend.
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