Saul has good one in Missing Fortune

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – From a handful of runners she had based at Finger Lakes in 2023, trainer Dana Saul currently has one stabled downstate for the winter. It’s a pretty good one in Missing Fortune, who portends to get a nice setup in Thursday’s second-level New York-bred allowance/optional $45,000 claiming feature going six furlongs at Aqueduct.

Missing Fortune, a 5-year-old daughter of Mission Impazible, ran nine times in 2023, winning three and running second on six occasions. In Saratoga, she won a first-level statebred allowance, taking advantage of a hot early pace. On Dec. 8 at Aqueudct, Missing Fortune finished second behind the front-running Peak of Chic, who was winning her 13th race from 33 career starts.

“I was pretty happy with it, especially coming from Finger Lakes and not being able train over the track,” Saul said of the Dec. 8 performance by Missing Fortune. “I think she has just improved every step of the way through the year, she keeps getting bigger and better.”

Saul, 37, is the daughter of jockey Dennis Saul and trainer Beth Miller-Saul. In addition to her parents, she has previously worked for trainers Charlton Baker and Jeremiah Englehart. Missing Fortune was previously trained by Englehart before coming into Saul’s barn last spring.

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Previously a front-runner, Missing Fortune has showed the ability to close from off the pace, something she did overcoming a slow start to win an allowance at Finger Lakes in November and a style jockey Andre Worrie employed last out.

“She’s pretty versatile. She’s shown speed and come off the pace. Whatever she does, she just tries her hardest,” Saul said.

There certainly looks to be ample speed in Thursday’s race with Cousin Kristi, Majestic Return, and potentially Sue Ellen Mishkin in the field. Sue Ellen Mishkin ran third in this condition at a mile here Sunday, so her participation Thursday is not definite.

Majestic Return and Cousin Kristi duked it out on the front end in this same condition Nov. 16, which only helped set things up for Sweetest Princess. Majestic Return, trained by Michelle Giangiulio, did well to hold second, beaten just a half-length.

Giangiulio is hopeful that jockey Kendrick Carmouche can avoid a speed duel Thursday.

“I don’t think he had to go quite as fast, but we were worried the track was speedy, so he didn’t want to sit off too much,” Giangiulio said. “But I talked to him afterwards and he said he probably could have rated her a little more to have more finish. She’s doing really good. I’m hoping she could sit off a little bit and not have to go too fast in the beginning.”

Giangiulio also entered Silver Fist, who finished last of nine in the same race in which Majestic Return finished second. Giangiulio wasn’t sure if she would actually run Silver Fist.

A fast pace could benefit Fontanafredda, who goes out first time off the claim for Randi Persaud, who ended the Aqueduct fall meet sending out four winners from his last 13 starters.

Im Just Kiddin will try to transfer some decent turf form to the dirt in this spot.

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