Split Time caps season on high note in Bay Ridge

OZONE PARK, N.Y - Last winter at Aqueduct trainer Linda Rice won seven stakes with her female division, topped by a victory in the Maddie May Stakes by the New York-bred Split Time.

On Sunday, Split Time capped a very successful 3-year-old campaign by rallying from last under Junior Alvarado to win the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over 33-1 shot No Hayne No Gayne. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Unbridledadventure in third, followed by a dull Bonita Bianca, the even-money favorite, in fourth.

That Split Time won wasn’t surprising - she was the 3-1 second choice. That she won rallying from last was a bit surprising, in particular to Rice.

“I told Junior in the paddock I see only one speed horse in here and that was Frostie Anne,” Rice said. “I was pretty surprised when we got shuffled back to last.”

Though last, Split Time was saving all the ground under Alvarado and was only 4 1/2 lengths behind Frostie Anne, who was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Bonita Bianca after a half-mile in 49.95 seconds.

Ruben Silvera kept Frostie Anne two to three paths off the rail and Alvarado got into Split Time in the middle of the turn and charged through the large opening at the top of the stretch. Split Time opened up a clear advantage in upper stretch and held a determined No Hayne No Gayne at bay in the final furlong.

“It wasn't my intention to stay on the rail," Alvarado said. "It's been a little heavy today, but I didn't have any other choice. I thought I had enough horse to get through on the rail and [swing] out and that's what I did. When I asked her, she was there for me and made my job a little easier for me.”

Split Time, a daughter of Take Charge Indy owned by the Tic Stables of of Andrew Richards, Jon Clay, and Ian Highet, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.56 and returned $8.

The win capped a year during which Split Time won 6 of 10 starts, including two stakes at Aqueduct, one at Finger Lakes, and one at Laurel. She was beaten a head when third in the Fleet Indian Stakes at Saratoga, her only previous start at 1 1/8 miles against statebreds. She was coming off a fourth in the Grade 3 Comely last out.

“I think seven-eighths to a mile and a sixteenth was in her wheelhouse, but not that many of these fillies want to go 1 1/8 miles,” said Rice, who won her meet-leading 10th race of the winter season.

Rice said her options were between this race or next Saturday’s La Verdad Stakes going seven furlongs.

“I thought this race might be the better spot for us,” Rice said.

Indeed it was.

Rice said she would likely point Split Time to the $100,000 Biogio’s Rose for New York-breds going a one-turn mile here Feb. 10.