Repeat won't be easy for Storied Lady

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Storied Lady was a clear-cut winner of the Bay Ridge Stakes on Dec. 31, there are several factors that could work against her when she meets basically the same field in a $69,000 allowance restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares Wednesday at Aqueduct.

There is a nine-pound weight shift between Storied Lady and Miss Da Point, who ran second in the Bay Ridge. In fact, at 123 pounds, Storied Lady is conceding weight to all five of her rivals Wednesday, whereas she was getting weight from most of them in the Bay Ridge.

Wednesday’s allowance is at one mile, a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Bay Ridge.

Lastly, Wednesday’s race appears to be lacking the same pace element that was in play in the Bay Ridge, when Storied Lady sat off a three-ply speed duel early.

“The weight concerns me a little bit, but she’s doing good, she likes the inner track and I expect her to run big,” trainer John Hertler said.

Miss Da Point, a four-time winner over the inner track, won two races here last winter when contesting the pace. She is making the third start off an extended layoff.

KEY CONTENDERS

Storied Lady (Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-80)

◗ She was 4 for 5 over the inner track and 0 for 9 elsewhere in 2014. Her lone inner-track loss came when she dueled on the lead with Saturday Appeal, a 2-5 favorite who drew away to win by seven lengths.

◗ She seems to have improved with the addition of blinkers three starts back.

◗ She has the ability to lay close to the lead, which may help her in a field that seems to have little speed.

“Miss Da Point has a lot of speed,” Hertler said. “If we can lay off her a little bit, that would be considered a good trip.”

Macha (Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-69)

◗ Macha got bumped, squeezed back and then stumbled five strides into the Bay Ridge before showing good late kick to get third.

◗ Her last victory came nearly one year ago when she beat Zenyatta’s sister Eblouissante in an open second-level allowance at Santa Anita.

◗ After a slow start to the meet (4 for 58), trainer Rudy Rodriguez has won with 8 of his last 30 starters (26.7%).

Miss Da Point (Last 3 Beyers: 73-84-57)

◗ She pressed the pace three wide, made the lead turning for home, but got outfooted by Storied Lady in the Bay Ridge. She conceded two pounds to Storied Lady that day, but gets seven pounds from her in this spot.

◗ She could be the primary speed under apprentice Angel Cruz.