A rejuvenated Stone Creator returns at Aqueduct
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stone Creator made an auspicious debut in January 2022, winning a seven-furlong maiden race by five lengths at Aqueduct.
In search of her second career win, Stone Creator returns from an eight-month layoff Thursday in a first-level allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares that serves as the feature on a nine-race card.
Following her debut win, Stone Creator finished second to Yo Cuz in a pair of New York-bred stakes followed by a runner-up finish in a 1 1/16-mile statebred allowance at Belmont in April. Trainer Charlton Baker stopped on her after a fifth-place finish in another Belmont allowance on May 27.
“She was getting really nervous and wasn’t running her race,’ Baker said. “She came back a lot better as far as her nerves were concerned.”
Baker said Stone Creator was turned out for three months on the farm where she also started back in training.
“She came in from the farm with a lot of bottom under her. I’m depending on that foundation she got on the farm,” Baker said.
Frankie Pennington, who is going to join the New York circuit for at least a little while this winter, has the call from the rail.
Shadolamo makes her sixth straight start in this condition for trainer Eduardo Jones. She has a second, two thirds, and two fourths in those races. Thursday, she cuts back to seven furlongs from a mile.
“She won’t kick as strong at a mile as she does seven-eighths,” Jones said.
Conversely, Carbon, a three-time beaten favorite, stretches out from six furlongs to seven for Linda Rice. Two starts back, she was beaten a neck by Caramocha going seven furlongs in the slop.
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