Rapid pace perfect setup for longshot

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Cloakof Vagueness may be the least accomplished of the nine fillies and mares entered in Saturday's $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct, but there are some things to like about her in the Grade 3 stakes.

A gray mare, Cloakof Vagueness figures to be double-digit odds in a race that has produced double-digit mutuels in four of the last five years. The pace scenario and distance should be an advantage for Cloakof Vagueness.

has finished second in her last three races, and in each of them she raced much closer to the pace than she prefers. With fast horses like Capeside Lady, Roar Emotion, and defending Turnback the Alarm winner Pocus Hocus in the field, Cloakof Vagueness should be able to come from off the pace.

"I think she's better six to eight lengths off it with something to run at," said trainer Phil Hauswald. "How can you take her back off the fractions they've been running?"

Cloakof Vagueness is only 3 for 19, but last fall she suffered only narrow losses in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks and the Hawthorne Oaks. Cloakof Vagueness has a 1-3-1 record from 5 starts at the Turnback the Alarm distance of 1 1/8 miles.

Cloakof Vagueness has her quirks, as she demonstrated when she froze several times before the Delaware Oaks. Hauswald shipped her from Belmont to Aqueduct on Thursday for a paddock schooling session, which she appeared to handle well.

Cloakof Vagueness gets in with 112 pounds and will break from post 9 under Edgar Prado.

Capeside Lady and Roar Emotion figure to vie for favoritism in the Turnback the Alarm.

, a New York-bred 3-year-old daughter of Cape Town, won the Grade 3 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks in August before finishing second in the Indiana Oaks on Oct. 1. She could hook up early with Roar Emotion, who dueled Azeri into defeat in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 27.

, who won the Demoiselle here at 2, did sit just off the pace winning the Sabin Handicap at Gulfstream in February. Having drawn post 7, she may be able to sit just outside of Capeside Lady and Pocus Hocus, who break from posts 2 and 5.

Nevermore, third in the Personal Ensign in August and an allowance winner here in April, is another late-runner with an upset chance if the pace is hot. Personal Legend and Fortunate Damsel will try to transfer their turf success to the dirt. Misty Sixes and Fast Cookie complete the field.