Newly Minted may have edge in Biogio's Rose

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Newly Minted has won from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. She has won on the lead or from a stalking position. Her versatility, along with her talent, may give her a slight edge in a pretty competitive renewal of the $100,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes for New York-bred females Sunday at Aqueduct.

Newly Minted, trained by Linda Rice for Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, makes her 4-year-old debut in the Biogio’s Rose. At 3, Newly Minted went 5 for 8 with three stakes victories. Her losses all came with excuses. She likely did not excel on the turf when third in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes last June. She fell due to exhaustion past the finish line when fourth in the Empire Distaff last October. On Dec. 8, she was not prepared for the start when finishing second to Bridlewood Cat in a first-level allowance race.

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Two weeks later, on Dec. 22, Newly Minted bounced back with a 7 1/4-length victory in an allowance going a one-turn mile, the same configuration of the Biogio’s Rose.

“I feel like we got her back on track, was it a confidence booster for her and I,” Rice said. “I think seven-eighths to a mile is her best window, maybe the mile might be better for her.”

Newly Minted will break from post 7 in the eight-horse field under the meet’s leading rider, Jose Lezcano.

Mrs. Orb brings a four-race winning streak into the Biogio’s Rose. That includes a victory in the Bay Ridge Stakes going 1 1/8 miles here on Dec. 29. Prior to that victory, Mrs. Orb won a pair of one-turn mile allowance races over Aqueduct’s main track.

“She has won going a mile against a little weaker group,” trainer Mike Miceli said. “A mile and an eighth, she’s kind of a natural at. The turnback, we’ll have to see what happens but it is a distance that she has won at, so she does have that going for her.”

Mrs. Orb will break from the rail under Dylan Davis.

Trainer Phil Serpe and owners/breeders Chester and Mary Broman send out the uncoupled entry of Out of Orbit and Held Accountable. Both were entered in the Bay Ridge, but Held Accountable scratched due to a foot abscess while Out of Orbit finished third. Out of Orbit will likely be part of the pace under Jorge Vargas Jr., while Held Accountable will try to come from out of it under Eric Cancel.

More Mischief, trained by Chad Brown, comes off a 7 3/4-length victory in a second-level allowance versus statebreds on Jan. 12. She gets in at 118 pounds, a six-pound concession from the top contenders.

Espresso Shot, who won the Busher Stakes here last winter, had a very sharp workout here on Sunday. Our Super Nova’s last two tries going a one-turn mile make her competitive in this spot. No Hayne No Gayne won an open company, second-level allowance here on Jan. 22.