Piece of My Heart, Self Isolation back on Lasix for allowance sprint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The morning after Piece of My Heart finished second to stablemate Betsy Blue in the $97,000 Interborough Stakes here Jan. 21, trainer Linda Rice was talking about running her in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on Feb. 18 at Laurel Park.

While Rice hasn’t completely ruled out running Piece of My Heart there, she seems to have found a better spot in Friday’s third-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race at Aqueduct.

Prior to her second in the Interborough, Piece of My Heart won this condition when not offered for the claiming price. Thursday, she is eligible to be claimed.

Rice acknowledged that being able to run on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix played a part in running in this spot. Horses are not eligible to race on Lasix in stakes races in New York or graded stakes in Maryland.

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“I don’t think her numbers without Lasix are going to be the same as they are with Lasix,” Rice said. “I think that’s going to make a pretty strong difference for her.”

Piece of My Heart had finished second three consecutive times in the third-level allowance condition before her victory on Jan. 5. One of those runner-up performances came behind Self Isolation, who beat Piece of My Heart by one length here Nov. 11 and faces her again Friday.

Following that win, Self Isolation finished last of 10 in the Grade 3 Go for Wand and fourth of five in the Interborough. Similar to Piece of My Heart, Self Isolation will be able to get back on Lasix in this race where she, too, is eligible to be claimed for $80,000.

“It could definitely be a factor,” owner-trainer David Jacobson said. The Interborough “was a fast race. There were good horses in there.”

Mosienko, trained by Dennis Lalman, was beaten a half-length by Piece of My Heart when the two finished second and third behind Fouette in this same condition Dec. 8. That race was run going six furlongs in the mud. Friday’s race is run at seven furlongs and is likely to be contested over a fast track.

The last time Mosienko raced seven furlongs over a fast track was Sept. 2 at Saratoga when she won a second-level New York-bred allowance by 4 1/2 lengths, earning a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I think seven furlongs is good for her,” said Lalman, whose one-horse stable is Mosienko, owned by his daughter Stacy. “She’s run some good races at seven furlongs. She’s training really good, and I think she likes a fast track a little better. . . . I’m looking for a huge race from her Friday.”

Secret Love won a second-level allowance Dec. 2 before finishing fourth behind Piece of My Heart in the slop on Jan. 5.

Exotic West has struggled to regain her best form, which she displayed winning the Top Flight Invitational last April. Easy to Bless and Honey Money complete the field.

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