No filly has yet to conquer 'America'

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Beautiful America's only loss came against males in the New York Breeders' Futurity in September. Her record against fillies is a perfect 3 for 3.

Sunday at Aqueduct, Beautiful America goes after her third consecutive stakes win in the $125,000 Fifth Avenue for 2-year-old fillies. The six-furlong Fifth Avenue is one of four races on Sunday's card for the progeny of New York-based stallions.

The other races are the $125,000 Great White Way for colts and geldings, the $100,000 Cormorant for turf males, and the $100,000 Perfect Arc for filly and mare grass runners.

Beautiful America, coupled in the wagering with Our Flag, will be a short-priced favorite in the nine-horse field. Owned by Chester and Mary Broman, Beautiful America is a daughter of the late Dixie Brass, one of New York's most successful sires.

Trained by Mike Hernandez, Beautiful America easily won her career debut in August at Saratoga. After finishing third in the New York Breeders' Futurity in her next start, she reeled off wins in the Joseph A. Gimma and the Maid of the Mist.

The Maid of the Mist was run at a mile, but Hernandez believes Beautiful America is equally adept in sprints.

"Sometimes you would worry about that but if you have the best horse, she should be able to handle it," Hernandez said. "She might be better at a distance, but this race has come up short [on quality] and it was hard to pass."

Hernandez said he hopes that Beautiful America, who came from off the pace to win the Maid of the Mist, gets away from the gate better than she did that day.

"I was surprised she broke dead last, but she also broke bad at Finger Lakes," he said. "She just hesitated."

Jose Santos rides Beautiful America, who drew post 9.

Hernandez said Fly Our Flag, who won a maiden race on Oct. 20 in her sixth start, is a late developer.

If Beautiful America is on her game, it looks like every one else is running for second money. The Name Was Gone and Hanselina, the winner and runner-up of a maiden race on Oct. 19, also were entered.

Great White Way wide open

There are no standouts among the 11 entered in the six-furlong Great White Way. A three-horse entry owned by Don and Mary Zuckerman - Chief Cat, Tomorrows War Cry, and Tomorrows Banquet - features the progeny of the Zuckerman's stallion, Tomorrows Cat.

Recent maiden winners Polish Jewel and Grey Comet are also entered.

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