Skyler's Starship better prepared for rematch with El Grande O in Bongard
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Skyler’s Starship was no match for El Grande O when the two met in a maiden race at Belmont Park in July. Nearly three months later, Skyler’s Starship may be the main threat to El Grande O when the two meet again in Sunday’s $125,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Aqueduct.
The Bongard and its filly counterpart, the Joseph A. Gimma, are the co-featured events on a nine-race card that begins at 1:05 p.m. Both races are run at seven furlongs.
El Grande O, making his third start, beat Skyler’s Starship, making his career debut, by 9 1/4 lengths when they ran five furlongs on turf on July 7 at Belmont.
El Grande O showed good speed that day while Skyler’s Starship was off slow, made a mild middle move, and flattened out.
El Grande O has since come back to run second in a pair of stakes on dirt at Saratoga for Linda Rice. He was second to Ship Cadet in the off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes going five furlongs on Aug. 17, then came back nine days later and was second, beaten a head, by The Wine Steward in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes going seven furlongs. The Wine Steward, unbeaten in three starts, is headed to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
El Grande O ran in the Funny Cide with blinkers for the first time. Though he stumbled at the break, El Grande O made all the pace only to be run down by The Wine Steward. El Grande O finished 5 1/2 lengths clear of the field.
Trainer John Terranova said he started Skyler’s Starship out on turf because the horse was ready to run and that was the type of race that was being offered at the time.
Terranova switched Skyler’s Starship to the dirt at Saratoga, added blinkers, and the son of Mendelssohn responded with a solid victory, coming back on Mischief Joke, who had taken the lead from him in midstretch. Skyler’s Starship is the only member of this field to have won at the Bongard distance of seven furlongs.
Mischief Joke came back to win his maiden at Aqueduct on Thursday. B D Saints, third to Skyler’s Starship in that Aug. 23 maiden race, won on Sept. 17 at Aqueduct.
Terranova said Skyler’s Starship “is a beautiful mover” who should do well on either surface.
El Grande O breaks from post 3 under Jose Ortiz, while Sklyer’s Starship is drawn in post 4 and will be ridden by Javier Castellano.
Trust Fund, a son of Practical Joke, was a sharp debut winner on Aug. 11 at Saratoga but then finished last of six in the Funny Cide Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher chalked that off to running him back too quick. Trust Fund is cross-entered in Monday’s Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes and as of Friday morning, it was unclear in which race he would run.
Aggelos the Great would be coming back on short rest if he starts, as he won his maiden here Sept. 14.
Ranger Blue, a maiden winner at Presque Isle Downs, and debut winners Detective Tom and Bonne Chance complete the field.
Caldwell Luvs Gold tops Gimma
Caldwell Luvs Gold will look to improve her record to 3 for 3 when she meets just four rivals in Sunday’s $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
Caldwell Luvs Gold, a daughter of Goldencents trained by Brad Cox, won her debut going six furlongs on July 27 at Saratoga, then came back one month later to win the Seeking the Ante Stakes by a half-length over Stellamaris on Aug. 27.
“She’s an off-the-pace filly, she showed the ability to close in both runs,” Cox said. “She ran a really good figure last time, if she stays right there she’ll be extremely competitive against these New York-breds.”
Florent Geroux, scheduled to ride Saudi Crown for Cox in Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, will come to New York on Sunday to ride Caldwell Luvs Gold.
My Shea D Lady was a maiden winner against open company on July 1 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Carlos David. Facing New York-breds for the first time, she finished third in the Seeking the Ante, 8 1/4 lengths behind Caldwell Luvs Gold.
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David is adding blinkers to My Shea D Lady’s equipment Sunday.
Cara’s Time, who set the pace in the Seeking the Ante before retreating to fifth, is having blinkers removed from her equipment Sunday. She does break from the rail.
My Mane Squeeze was a front-running winner of a maiden race on Sept. 1 at Saratoga. Nicky Jolene, a four-length maiden winner on turf at Belmont in July, is entered here and in Monday’s Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes.
With only five runners, the Gimma is carded as race 2.
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