St. Benedicts Prep goes from big starter win to allowance

Though she didn’t change leads properly, St. Benedicts Prep was drawing away from her competition when scoring a 10 1/2-length victory in a starter-allowance race on May 24 at Aqueduct.

Though she is technically stepping up in class in a first-level allowance that serves as the feature on Sunday’s nine-race Aqueduct card, St. Benedicts Prep does face several runners trying to turn around their form.

St. Benedicts Prep was claimed by trainer Linda Rice in April for $80,000. In her first start for Rice, St. Benedicts Prep stumbled at the start, unseating her rider. Three weeks later, St. Benedicts Prep chased a loose-on-the-lead runner, ran by that one turning for home, and spurted clear. That race was at seven furlongs, the same distance as Sunday’s race.

Sunday, St. Benedicts Prep takes on Nikitis, who returns to the dirt after a last-place finish in a Tampa Bay Downs allowance race on turf in April. Before that, Nikitis finished fifth in the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. Her lone victory came in a seven-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct last December.

Cupid’s Heart has been a beaten favorite in five of her last six starts. She has won twice off layoffs and is making her first start since Oct. 5 in this spot.

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