Sheriffa brings sharp form to open company
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After dominating New York-breds in her last two starts, Sheriffa dips her toes in open company Friday in a $72,000, first-level allowance race that serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s nine-race program.
Since being claimed by Linda Rice for $16,000 last September, Sheriffa has two wins, a second, and a third from five starts. Her last two efforts have been her best, coinciding with stretching out in distance. She won consecutive statebred allowance races by 3 1/4 lengths and 11 3/4 lengths running two turns over Aqueduct’s inner track. Friday’s race is a one-turn mile over the main track.
“She had been running short when I claimed her,” Rice said. “It appeared to me she wanted to run long, and her last two races have been her only two starts at a route of ground. She seems to relish the distance. I hope she keeps moving forward. This will be a much tougher test than what she’s met before.”
Sheriffa has to carry the co-high weight of 124 pounds along with Checkupfromzneckup. The two are spotting 2 to 12 pounds to the rest of the field.
A forecast that calls for rain could benefit Checkupfromzneckup, whose only win came against maiden special weight company in a one-turn, one-mile race in the slop last October at Belmont. Sheriffa is winless in two starts over wet surfaces.
Checkupfromzneckup, trained by Chad Brown, is coupled in the wagering with Diannestillworks, trained by Rudy Rodriguez. The two fillies share common ownership.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sheriffa (Last 3 Beyers: 92-72-70)
◗ She has won her last two in front-running fashion, breaking from the rail and racing around two turns. She cuts back to one turn and breaks from post 3 on Friday.
“We’ll hope she can inherit the lead again and see if she can work out a trip there,” Rice said. “Obviously, Plan B would let her settle off of it.”
Irish Sweepstakes (Last 3 Beyers: 81-74-72)
◗ This New York-bred filly is making her fourth try against open company but may have found the softest such field she’s met.
◗ She comes off a second-place finish behind the royally bred Via Strata on Feb. 7. Via Strata is now 2 for 2 in her career.
◗ A three-time winner, Irish Sweepstakes was second to Irish Whisperer going 6 1/2 furlongs in her first time in this allowance condition, which came over Aqueduct’s main track last November.
Diannestillworks (Last 3 Beyers: 61-62-67)
◗ The only 3-year-old in the field, Diannestillworks drops into allowance company after thirds in two listed stakes.
◗ She wore blinkers for the first time in her last start.
“She was a little sharper,” trainer Rodriguez said.
◗ She won a maiden $75,000 claimer by 5 1/2 lengths over a “good” Aqueduct main track last November.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Diannestillworks. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is 18-6-3-3 with a $2.71 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt at Aqueduct following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Mine for Life. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 21-10-4-3 with a $3.51 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan