Overprepared among new shooters in rescheduled Busanda Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – What a difference almost a week makes.

Six days after the Busanda Stakes was carded with six 3-year-old fillies, the rescheduled edition of the $100,000 stakes will go with a field of nine when it highlights Friday’s nine-race program at Aqueduct. The race was postponed when last Saturday’s card was scrapped due to weather and safety concerns.

At least two of the new shooters are legitimate contenders – Overprepared, trained by Todd Pletcher, and Been Here Before, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Overprepared, a troubled third as the 2-5 favorite in the Smart Halo Stakes in November, is one of two horses Pletcher sends out in the Busanda, a race he has won three of the last four years. Hopefaithjoy, fourth in the Rags to Riches Stakes last out, is the other. They are not coupled in the wagering.

Been Here Before, a maiden winner Dec. 26 when stretched out around two turns and with Lasix added, is coupled with Bonnet Plume, as both are owned by Godolphin Racing.

The Busanda, run around two turns at a mile and 70 yards, offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to the Kentucky Oaks for the first four finishers.

Key contenders

Overprepared (Last 2 Beyers: 64-76)

* After winning her debut Oct. 19 at Belmont, this Quality Road filly finished third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, as the 2-5 favorite in the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel.

* In addition to stumbling at the start, Overprepared, under Jose Ortiz, had to take up sharply at the eighth pole when a horse crossed over in front of her.

“It looked like the rail was going to open up, and a horse veered in, and she had to steady, lost all momentum, and the race was over before she could get untracked again,” Pletcher said. “Not positive that she was going to win, but it looked like she was making a winning-type move when she got stopped.”

* Pletcher said he was torn between running Overprepared in this spot or in a one-turn-mile allowance race at Gulfstream last weekend. He and owner Mike Repole opted to give this race a try.

* Overprepared is a half-sister to Shadow Cast, a Grade 1 winner around two turns.

Hopefaithjoy (Last 3 Beyers: 60-72-71)

* Hopefaithjoy won a two-turn maiden race Oct. 5 at Keeneland before finishing fourth in the one-turn-mile Rags to Riches at Churchill on Oct. 26.

* The top three finishers from the Rags to Riches came back to win their next starts.

“I thought she ran okay,” Pletcher said. “I was a little reluctant to back her up to a one-turn mile, but I thought it might set her up for the Golden Rod or the Demoiselle. She needed a little more time.”

Bonnet Plume (Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-55)

* After two losses to begin her career, this daughter of Bernardini won by 9 1/2 lengths in her first start around two turns and her first on Lasix.

* Trainer Tom Albertrani said he believes Bonnet Plume was compromised by getting dirt kicked in her face in her second start, when she finished fourth. She avoided that by breaking from the outside in her last race. She had the outside post when the race originally was drawn, and she has the outside post again Friday.