Shalimar Gardens gets a second chance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Shalimar Gardens disappointed as the 1-5 favorite here on Jan. 13, chasing 12-1 Mashnee Girl around the track but never getting close to her in a first-level New York-bred allowance going a mile.

Shalimar Gardens figures an odds-on choice once again when a same condition allowance serves as the feature on Friday’s eight-race card at Aqueduct.

Shalimar Gardens was dropping out of two graded stakes – finishing fourth in both the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland and Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct – when she competed in that statebred allowance feature on Jan. 13. She was able to attain a stalking position behind Mashnee Girl, who may have taken advantage of an inside-speed favoring surface on the day.

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In her lone victory, Shalimar Gardens led all the way in an open-company maiden race at Belmont last September, winning by 11 1/4 lengths. For the fifth time in what will be her seventh start, Shalimar Gardens will break from the rail. Manny Franco rides.

Shalimar Gardens maintains a significant Beyer Speed Figure advantage over this field as her last five numbers are higher than her five rivals have achieved through 73 career starts.

Trainers Robert Falcone Jr. and Juan Vazquez are enjoying highly successful meets. Falcone sends out Raffinity first off the $25,000 claim, while Vazquez has Seahorse d’Oro first off the claim.