Out of Orbit, Held Accountable attempt to end careers with a Bay Ridge Stakes victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Before Out of Orbit and Held Accountable join Chester and Mary Broman’s broodmare band in 2020, the pair of stakes-winning 4-year-old fillies will attempt to go out on a winning note in Sunday’s $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

The speedy Out of Orbit was first and the late-running Held Accountable second when the two met in the $100,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes, also at 1 1/8 miles, in Saratoga in August. Out of Orbit controlled things on the front end under Luis Saez while Held Accountable, after saving all the ground early, tipped widest of all in the stretch and showed good courage to get second by a head over Lucky Move.

Out of Orbit has only raced once since, finishing 10th of 11 in the Empire Distaff, a one-turn mile race in which she was part of a fast early pace. Held Accountable finished third in that race, which followed a failed turf try in the Yaddo Stakes. Phil Serpe trains both fillies.

“I thought Held Accountable ran big at Saratoga,” Serpe said. “There were no races to run in so we tried her in the Yaddo, which was pointless. I thought she ran a creditable race in [the Empire Distaff]. She was making up ground late.

“Both fillies are fresh and doing well coming into the race,” Serpe added.

Out of Orbit, the 125-pound highweight, figures to break running from the rail under Manny Franco and will likely have some pace pressure from Cartwheel. Held Accountable, who breaks from post 3, will try to come from off the pace under Eric Cancel and 121 pounds.

Our Super Nova finished second in the Empire Distaff, 4 3/4 lengths in front of Held Accountable. After winning a division of the New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs on Nov. 10, Our Super Nova finished third behind a loose-on-the-lead Spiced Perfection in the Grade 3 Go for Wand going a mile on Dec. 7.

Our Super Nova, who breaks from post 5 under Junior Alvarado, will be trying two turns for the first time since she won an allowance race at Finger Lakes in September 2018.

Lucky Move, third in the Saratoga Dew, is coming off a dominant six-length victory in a starter allowance at Parx on Nov. 16. That was her first start for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, who is looking forward to stretching this 5-year-old mare out to 1 1/8 miles.

“It looks to me like the farther she goes the better she is,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said he is a little concerned about Lucky Move having to miss a few days of training over the last two weeks due to poor track conditions at Parx.

Mrs. Orb has won three straight allowance races for trainer Mike Miceli, who has enjoyed a strong 2019 with 21 wins from 75 starters.

Longshot Fight On Lucy completes the field.

◗ There will be racing both Monday and Tuesday, traditional dark days on this circuit, as part of a five-day race week that ends with Wednesday’s New Year’s Day card.