Pace in Distaff might favor late-running My Pal Chrisy

[bc_video_id:321722:]OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Marty Wolfson came to last year’s Grade 2 Distaff at Aqueduct thinking he had two chances to win the race. But Spectacular Sky was scratched after developing a fever, and Nakano finished last of four in what would be the last start of her career.

Wolfson is back to take another shot at the $200,000 Distaff, sending out the six-time listed stakes winner My Pal Chrisy against six opponents in a pretty competitive renewal of the six-furlong race for fillies and mares.

My Pal Chrisy, a 6-year-old daughter of Alex’s Pal, is cross-entered in Saturday night’s $200,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town, but Wolfson said Thursday that she would most likely run in the Distaff.

“I feel more comfortable three-quarters, one turn, than two turns, seven-eighths,” Wolfson said, referring to the configuration of the Distaff and Sugar Maple, respectively.

On paper, the race looks like it could set up well for My Pal Chrisy, who does her best running from off the pace. The Distaff has plenty of early speed types, with La Verdad, who drew the rail, and Munnings Sister, who is in post 4, chief among them. My Pal Chrisy is in post 7 under Junior Alvarado, who rides for the first time since he broke his ankle Dec. 22.

“I wanted to be out there, and it looks like a lively pace,” Wolfson said.

[DRF Live: Get live reports and handicapping insights from Aqueduct this Saturday]

Munnings Sister defeated My Pal Chrisy in the Awesome Feather Stakes in February at Gulfstream, a track that favored speed types most of the meet.

While My Pal Chrisy is in search of her first graded stakes win, Kauai Katie will be looking for her fifth such victory in her 10th career start. A multiple Grade 2 winner at 2, Kauai Katie won the Old Hat and Forward Gal stakes at Gulfstream last winter before unsuccessfully stretching out in the Grade 1 Acorn, where she finished third. A last-place finish in the Grade 1 Prioress at six furlongs last July 27 proved to be her last start of 2013. John Velazquez rides Kauai Katie, the 120-pound highweight, from post 5.

Last year, the Distaff was won by the brilliant New York-bred Cluster of Stars, who finished her career undefeated from seven starts. On Saturday, the New York-bred La Verdad brings a 6-for-8 record into the Distaff. Her only previous graded stakes try came in the Barbara Fritchie at seven furlongs in February, when she finished second to My Wandy’s Girl.

“When we ran in Maryland, the Barbara Fritchie was the most difficult time we had through the winter making the race because of the weather and lack of training,” trainer Linda Rice said. “But since then, she’s been on target.”

La Verdad, who will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., is 3 for 3 over Aqueduct’s main track, including a victory in the Broadway Stakes for New York-breds.

Miss d’Oro finished second to Cluster of Stars in last year’s Distaff and is making her first start since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Vagrancy at Belmont last May.

Lion D N A won the Interborough and Correction over the inner track before running fifth in a starter allowance Feb. 17.

◗ Visitation for Joey DiAngelo, the jockeys’ agent who died suddenly Wednesday, will be Saturday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Evergreen Funeral Home, 1735 Rt. 35 Middletown, N.J. 07748.