OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If New Ginya’s last race was a sign of things to come for the 4-year-old filly then there doesn’t figure to be much drama in Friday’s $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s turf course. But, coming off a career-top effort and stretching out just a little farther in distance, New Ginya will have a few things to prove if she’s to continue her ascension in this division. New Ginya made an eye-catching last-to-first run while seven wide in the Yaddo, drawing off to win by 3 3/4 lengths under Dylan Davis for trainer Christophe Clement. “I thought she was very impressive,” Clement said. “She just played with the field, she showed a great turn of foot. I’m running her back a little bit quick, but she’s doing well. She looks good.” New Ginya showed a similar turn of foot going seven furlongs on turf at Belmont Park in June. The Hettinger is a prelude to the $200,000 Ticonderoga on Oct. 29. None of the seven entered for turf in the Hettinger have won at the distance. New Ginya, in her third career start in the spring of 2022, was third, beaten a neck, at 1 1/8 miles in a first-level allowance at Belmont. :: Get Belmont at the Big A Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day. “I just think she’s a better horse today than what she used to be,” said Clement, who trains New Ginya, a daughter of Tonalist, for owner/breeder Robert S. Evans. New Ginya’s main rivals Friday figure to be the same ones who finished behind her in the Yaddo – second- through fourth place finishers Spungie, Runaway Rumour, and Whatlovelookslike. Spungie, trained by Bill Mott, had some trouble in the Yaddo, having to steady early and perhaps losing some position. That was her first start off an eight-month layoff. Last fall at Aqueduct, Spungie won a second-level allowance and finished third, a half-length behind Runaway Rumour, in the Ticonderoga. With Junior Alvarado riding at Churchill Downs on Friday, Joel Rosario has picked up the mount on Spungie. Runaway Rumour won the first three starts of her career but has gone just 1 for 17 since. She won last year’s Ticonderoga after finishing third in the Hettinger. Trained by Jorge Abreu then, Runaway Rumour was moved by owner Lawrence Goichman to Horcacio De Paz this spring. Friday, Runaway Rumour makes her first start for Linda Rice. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Whatlovelookslike won the Port Washington Stakes at Belmont in July and then an open second-level allowance race on Aug. 6 at Saratoga. She might have come back too quick when she pressed the pace and faded to third in the Yaddo. Sweetie won her turf debut in a second-level allowance on Sept. 14 and is being wheeled right back by trainer Gary Sciacca. Out of Sight and Saratoga Chrome look like outsiders in this spot. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.