OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver believes Pass the Champagne has a solid, albeit short, run. It just has to be timed correctly. Weaver hopes jockey Jose Lezcano can time it right Friday when Pass the Champagne runs in the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap, a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares at Aqueduct. The Distaff is the featured event on an eight-race card that also is marked by the return of grass racing to this circuit, with three such events. Pass the Champagne’s most notable race came two years ago when she came within a head of Malathaat in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. Issues limited her to one start the remainder of her 3-year-old campaign and again at 4 when she was sidelined following an allowance win at Gulfstream Park. In two starts this year, Pass the Champagne was narrowly beaten in the Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park in February. “I think she has a timed run,” Weaver said. “You don’t want to be asking her at the three-eighths pole. In the Barbara Fritchie, [Angel Cruz] did a good job of getting her in a good spot down the backside but he let her do some running to get up there at the quarter pole; there she is, then all of a sudden she hung. She has a nice acceleration, but I don’t think she wants to press.” Friday, Jose Lezcano rides Pass the Champagne from the rail. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  Gerrymander won the Tempted at age 2 and the Grade 2 Mother Goose at age 3, both one-turn mile races at Belmont Park. She was given time off following sound defeats in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga and Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing. Gerrymander began breezing on Jan. 8 and has 13 workouts leading to her return. “She tailed off in her form there last year, which was disappointing, but she seems to have taken advantage of her time off,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She’s pretty fit. She’s done everything right.” Manny Franco rides from post 2. The New York-bred Funny How brings a five-race win streak – all at Aqueduct – into the Distaff, including a 4 1/4-length victory in the Broadway Stakes on Feb. 12. While she has two wins against open company, this is her first time in a graded stakes. She has post 7 in a field of eight that includes Mommasgottarun, who is expected to run despite having finished fifth in last Sunday’s Top Flight. “I like being on the outside, with the speed all to her inside,” said Funny How’s trainer, Ray Handal, who is 0 for 28 in graded stakes. “It seemed like in these tougher races she winds up with these inside posts, so it’s nice Katie [Davis] will have some options tactically in the race. I think winning is within her realm. She has to probably improve a little bit and fire her A-plus race, but she’s doing super.” Rossa Veloce, winner of the Correction, will try stretch out from six to seven furlongs for Rob Atras. Easy to Bless, Hydra, and Meraviglioso complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and