Regent's House challenges elders in Aqueduct allowance feature

A mere 10 days after dual Eclipse Award winner Ashado was announced as a Hall of Fame finalist, her 3-year-old daughter, Regent’s House, burst onto the scene with an auspicious debut at six furlongs for Darley Stable and Kiaran McLaughlin.

On Friday, Regent’s House, a regally bred filly by Street Cry, steps up a notch and stretches out a bit in Aqueduct’s featured eighth race, a $62,000, first-level allowance at seven furlongs.

Lightly regarded as part of a 6-1 entry on the inner track March 9, Regent’s House pressed the early pace and drew off steadily through the stretch to win a six-furlong maiden dash by better than six lengths. That performance had her connections mulling a start in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes, but they ultimately opted for this more conservative route.

“We definitely think she is that kind of filly,” said assistant trainer Art Magnuson.

Upcoming dirt stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park include the $100,000 Jersey Girl at six furlongs May 26 and the Grade 1, $750,000 Acorn at one mile June 7.

Following a promotion to Godolphin Racing, which consists of the top-tier horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Regent’s House takes on five older rivals Friday, including Lost in Success and What the Frost, 4-year-old fillies who are uncoupled for Rudy Rodriguez. He entered the week atop the trainers’ standings with a 9-for-21 record, including his first Grade 1 win with Dads Caps in the Carter Handicap.

Lost in Success was impressive in her seasonal debut Feb. 2, a maiden win by nearly six lengths with a Beyer Speed Figure of 87. On the strength of that performance, she was 1-2 for her initial allowance attempt 26 days later but came up a flat third after bobbling at the start.

Painted Poney rates an upset chance for Up Hill Stable and trainer David Duggan. She is a pattern match to Old Upstart, who had also run three times at Woodbine and also was first-time Lasix when returned from a layoff to win for the same outfit April 2. She picks up meet-leading rider Jose Ortiz, who entered the final three weeks of the spring meet with 16 victories and a six-win lead on his brother, two-time inner-track titlist Irad Ortiz Jr., who is on What the Frost.

What the Frost, idle since Feb. 23, won a New York-bred allowance here last fall off a similar freshening.