Paulassilverlining would rather run in Garland of Roses than rest

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Michelle Nevin was planning to give Paulassilverlining a break following her solid third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last month at Santa Anita. Paulassilverlining had other ideas.

So, instead of a little R & R, Paulassilverlining will look to become a millionaire when she heads a field of seven entered in Saturday’s $125,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct. The Garland of Roses, run at six furlongs, is the first stakes of the inner-track meet.

On paper, Paulassilverlining looks like an absolute standout, having won four graded stakes in her career, whereas the rest of the field has yet to win one. Her lowest Beyer Speed Figure this year of 90 is higher than the best career number for all but one rival – Disco Chick – in this field.

“She’s just doing so good, and she’s just been so fresh, and the race is available to us,” Nevin said. “We would have liked to have backed off of her, but she wasn’t going for it.”

In the Breeders’ Cup, Paulassilverlining dueled between horses, including Finest City, who went on to win the race. Paulassilverlining did well to finish third, beaten only two lengths.

“She never had a chance to catch her breath,” Nevin said. “I still felt like she ran huge. Had she had a chance to catch a little breather, maybe things would have been better at the finish.”

Though she was part of the pace in the Breeders’ Cup, Paulassilverlining has demonstrated the ability to sit off the pace. She is drawn in post 6 and has all the speed horses to her inside.

Paulassilverlining was beaten at 2-5 here in the Correction in March, but jockey Jose Ortiz might have made a tactical mistake in that race by not be being more aggressive in the early stages.

Though there is a field of seven in this race, Black Mission Fig is cross-entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Willa On the Move at Laurel.

Garland of Roses, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers; 90-95-94

◗ Is far and away the class of this field with four graded stakes wins and five stakes victories in her career. Is 2-2-0 from four starts over the inner track, including a 9 1/4-length allowance win here in February, when she earned a career-best 107 Beyer.

Disco Chick, by Fusaichi Pegasus

Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-60

◗ Was in razor-sharp form last spring when she won three consecutive listed sprint stakes, two at Parx and one at Pimlico.

◗ Finished third, but 12 lengths behind runner-up Paulassilverlining, in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga.

My Savannah Belle, by Afleet Alex

Last 3 Beyers: 78-76-85

◗ Her best races have come over the inner track, including a victory in the Xtra Heat in 2015 and a fourth-place finish in the Correction in March, when she was 4 1/2 lengths behind Paulassilverlining.