Only a few will challenge Spiced Perfection in Go for Wand

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Multiple Grade 1 winner Spiced Perfection will head a short field for Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct.

On Monday, Spiced Perfection worked five furlongs in 1:02 over a good Churchill Downs surface. Afterward, her connections said they were pleased with the move and would ship here for the race.

Spiced Perfection finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and was cataloged to be sold a few days later, but she did not attain her reserve and will remain in training for another year.

Spiced Perfection won the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita last December. Her two wins from five starts this year include the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland in April. Most of her races have been at six or seven furlongs, and the Go for Wand is run as a one-turn mile.

“I think she’ll handle it,” trainer Peter Miller said. “But it’s all conjecture at this point.”

Spiced Perfection was assigned 124 pounds and will be the starting highweight in the Go for Wand. Javier Castellano will ride.

Others expected for the race include Turnback the Alarm Handicap runner-up Another Broad (118 pounds), Pumpkin Pie winner Saguaro Row (118), New York Stallion Stakes winner Our Super Nova (117), and the 3-year-old filly stakes winner Espresso Shot (114). Needs Supervision, who won Saturday’s Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel, was supplemented on Sunday by her connections and is possible. She was assigned 116 pounds.

◗ With Sunday’s cancellation, NYRA has carded 10 races for Friday at Aqueduct with an early post of 11:30 a.m. The card includes the $100,000 Central Park Stakes for 2-year-olds scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf.