Shaker Shack stays focused with blinkers in Park Avenue victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Shaker Shack withstood the early pace pressure from Laura’s Bellamy, then turned aside a mid-race challenge from Shesadirtydancer to win Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series by 1 1/2 lengths on closing day of the Aqueduct spring meet.

Bustin Bay finished third, followed by Laura’s Bellamy, Jill’s a Hot Mess, and Laobanonaprayer, who didn’t run a step as the 1-2 favorite.

“No horse, man,” Kendrick Carmouche, the rider of Laobanonaprayer said. “I ain’t have no horse from the beginning. [Trainer Danny Velazquez] told me the horse was doing well, but she never dragged me like she usually drags me to win.”

With Shaker Shack equipped with blinkers for the first time, jockey Jose Ortiz had horse at every point. Breaking sharp out of the gate, Shaker Shack dueled outside of Laura’s Bellamy through a quarter in 22.07 seconds. As Laura’s Bellamy faded going into the turn, Shesadirtydancer, under Irad Ortiz Jr., confronted Shaker Shack from the outside.

Shesadirtydancer actually was in front of Shaker Shack approaching the top of the stretch, but Shaker Shack fought back to make the lead by midstretch and edged away in the final sixteenth.

Pat Reynolds, the trainer of Shaker Shack, said he added the blinkers at the suggestion of Trevor McCarthy, who had ridden the filly in her last three starts. Ortiz felt they made the difference.

“Last time, Trevor said she waited for the other horse and she got nailed,” Ortiz said. “When she tried to fight back it was too late. They put blinkers on her, [Reynolds] told me you’re going to love her. She was very focused, did everything right. Very gutsy.”

Irad Ortiz said his filly hung a little bit when she made the lead.

Shaker Shack, a daughter of Bustin Stones owned and bred by Roddy Valente and Dr. Jerry and Darlene Bilinski, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.75 and returned $12.80.

“She’s not one of those horses that comes over her prancing and dancing and really touts you,” Reynolds said. “She falls asleep; put the rider up she’s all business, the perfect filly to have.”

Bubbles On Ice takes Memories of Silver

Bubbles On Ice overcame a slow pace and a seven-month layoff with a strong turn of foot to win Sunday’s $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a head over favored Fluffy Socks.

Toward the back of the pace after the opening six furlongs, Bubbles On Ice was switched into the five-path by Javier Castellano turning for home and powered down the center of Aqueduct’s inner turf course and held off Fluffy Socks, who had gotten shuffled back to last around the far turn.

It was three lengths back to Sleek Lynx in third. Oyster Box was fourth followed by Ingrassia, Bravo Regina, and Frost Me.

Bubbles On Ice, an Irish-bred daughter of Starspangledbanner, was making her first start since she ran fourth in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland. She was trained by James Stack then.

Purchased by Craig Bernick’s Glen Hill Farm, Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables and Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables, Bubbles On Ice was transferred to Christophe Clement over the winter.

Clement said he thought Bubbles On Ice was more of a miler, but felt the Memories of Silver at 1 1/16-miles was a good place to start her campaign. Though he knew the race lacked pace, Clement felt the best way for Castellano to ride Bubbles On Ice was to sit back and make one run.

Frost Me and Bravo Regina sparred on the lead through slow fractions of 25.17, 51.09 and 1:15.33 for six furlongs. Castellano had Bubbles On Ice along the inside, but gradually worked his way out on the middle of the turn.

In the clear turning for home, Bubbles On Ice kicked home and held off Fluffy Socks, who was making her own late bid in the lane under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Bubbles On Ice covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.14 and returned $9.80 as the fourth choice.

“I felt it was better off to be covered up, he gave her a great ride, she saved ground, she had a great turn of foot,” Clement said. “Small question mark about the distance, but she stayed this afternoon.”

Ortiz, Brown win titles

Jose Ortiz and Chad Brown were the leading jockey and trainer, respectively, at the 11-day Aqueduct spring meet.

Ortiz, who won three races Sunday, finished the meet with 24 wins, seven more than his brother Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode here for only five of the 11 cards. Kendrick Carmouche was third with 12 wins followed by Manny Franco (11).

Jose Ortiz also won the title in 2014 and 2016.

Brown won two races on Sunday to finish the meet with 10 victories. Todd Pletcher (6), Linda Rice (5), Bill Mott (4) and Orlando Noda (4) were next.

There was a two-way tie for leading owner as Peter Brant and the Noda brothers each had four wins.