Oh Deanne O seeks two in row

The philosopher and cultural critic George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Horseplayers should keep that in mind for Thursday's featured eighth race, in which Oh Deanne O is likely to try a reprise of the front-running tactics that led to an upset of first-level allowance rivals at Belmont last month.

Oh Deanne O shipped in from Monmouth to set a methodical pace beneath Eibar Coa going 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 28, and had enough in reserve to maintain the lead while sprinting home the final quarter in 23.33 seconds.

The lightly raced Oh Deanne O steps up to the second-level condition for trainer Cam Gambolati, in a competitive $58,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

For Always and Waquoit's Love have shown tactical speed in the past, and project to be stalking Oh Deanne O in the early going.

Back in May, For Always finished second in consecutive starts when brought back from a layoff by Carlos Martin. She was in tough company twice during the summer, finishing sixth in the Grade 2 New York behind Makderah, and sixth again at Saratoga behind Criminologist, who returned to set a course record later at that meet before winning the recent Athenia Handicap at Belmont.

Waquoit's Love was a maiden winner on Aqueduct turf for trainer Tim Hills in spring 2006, and that turned out to be her final start as a 3-year-old. She appears to be back in top form after overcoming a wide trip to beat preliminary allowance rivals with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure.

"I knew she had a race like that in her," Hills said. "She had been training well, so it was nice to see. She injured a hind leg and had some setbacks while she was recovering. She's a really big mare, so it's taken a while to get her fit."

Also in the field are Truly Enchanting, who makes her U.S. debut and looks like a deep closer based on her races in England; Double Dinghy Day, a wide fourth at 3-2 in this condition last out; Bridal Path, who has been first or second in 16 of 31 starts on turf; the freshly claimed Birdie Sets Sail; and Enter Stage Left, a Maryland-based mare who is the lone winner at the distance.

Sweetsinginanita and Daytime Promise entered for dirt only.