Sea Pines should like distance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It was not trainer Gregory Wilson's plan to give Sea Pines 50 days between races. It's just that he could not find the right race for his 3-year-old filly, who has won two of her first four starts.

He may have found the perfect spot for Sea Pines to earn her first stakes win when she meets five rivals in Sunday's $65,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.

, a Maryland-bred daughter of Exploit, won two of her first three starts before finishing second behind Celestial Legend in the Toddler Stakes at Laurel on Nov. 26. That was Celestial Legend's fourth win from as many starts. She would make it 5 for 5 when she won the Marshua Stakes by 12 lengths at Laurel on Jan. 7.

Instead of running Sea Pines in the Marshua, Wilson targeted the Busanda, run at a mile and 70 yards, and has been training Sea Pines for distance in what will be her first start around two turns.

"I think she'll love it," Wilson said. "I think she'll run all day long."

Of Sea Pines's previous starts, Wilson was most impressed with her allowance win at Delaware Park on Oct. 6. Ramon Dominguez, who will be aboard Sea Pines on Sunday, rode her that day at Delaware.

"He never touched her with a stick. He hand rode her that day," Wilson said. "She's an attractive filly. She's training like a bear coming into this race. I feel very confident."

and Last Romance head the list of local contenders entered in the Busanda. Though Daytime Promise is a daughter of the talented sprinter Five Star Day, she won her maiden by 5 1/2 lengths going a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 1.

"She had distance written all over her from the day I bought her," said trainer Gary Contessa. "This filly is a legitimate contender for the Busanda. I really love her."

Daytime Promise won that maiden race over a sealed muddy track, which Contessa said he believes she tolerated more than relished. "She ran in the slop because she had to, but I think she's better on a fast track," he said.

has gone 2 for 2 since trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. claimed her from Steve Asmussen last August. One of those wins came in a mile and 70-yard race over the inner track.

Jet Set Broad will have blinkers added to her equipment as she stretches out off a third-place finish in the Ruthless at six furlongs. Spartan Valor and Mississippi Madam complete the field.