Pace scenario should suit Wildcat Combat in Garland of Roses

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The $100,000 Garland of Roses for female sprinters Sunday at Aqueduct appears to have so many early speed types that it seems best to try and find a horse that can be successful from off the pace. Wildcat Combat appears to fit the bill.

Wildcat Combat, a 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Messner – an obscure stallion who is a three-quarter brother to Malibu Moon – has won 7 of her 21 starts. She has won three of her last four starts on dirt, showing the ability to press the pace or stalk, as she did winning a statebred allowance in April.

“She runs any way that I ask her,” said trainer Miguel Penaloza, who will be starting his first horse at Aqueduct in this spot. “She can run wire to wire, she can run off the pace.”

Wildcat Combat won a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Parx on Oct. 14 by pressing the pace. She has come back with four workouts, including a bullet five-furlong move in 58.60 seconds on Nov. 22.

“I never ask her to work that way,” Penaloza said.

Dexter Haddock, who has won twice on Wildcat Combat, is coming up from Parx to ride.

Wildcat Combat is one of five runners in the Garland of Roses who also were entered for the main track in Saturday’s Autumn Days Stakes, scheduled for six furlongs on turf. Penaloza said he is focusing on Sunday’s race.

Miss Imperial is another who can be successful from a stalking position. She ran well here during the winter, winning an allowance and finishing second in both the Ruthless and Cicada stakes. On Oct. 10, she was claimed from Jason Servis for $50,000 by Joe Sharp. In her first start for Sharp, Miss Imperial pressed the pace and finished third in a five-horse allowance race.

The horse that beat her in that spot was New Year’s Wish, who is back in the Garland of Roses for trainer Linda Rice. New Year’s Wish reeled off three consecutive wins in front-running fashion before finishing last in a second-level allowance on March 8. She was off for eight months before winning a second-level allowance by 4 1/2 lengths on the front end here on Nov. 9.

Pauseforthecause has won two straight including the Iroquois Stakes for New York-breds for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Pauseforthecause won both of those in front-running fashion. She will break from the rail on Sunday under Manny Franco.

“I dislike the post, but she doesn’t have to be on the lead,” McLaughlin said. “The last two races she broke running, in the clear, good rhythm, clean face. This race it doesn’t appear that it will be that way.”

Our Circle of Love, Angel At War, and Sea Sparkle complete the field.

The Garland of Roses goes as race 4 on a 10-race card that begins at 11:50 a.m. and includes the twice-rescheduled Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap.