Starship Defiant, part of Jacobson entry, comes off troubled trip

Four New York-breds and two California-breds make up two-thirds of the nine-horse field entered in a competitive second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claimer for fillies and mares that serves as the feature on Thursday’s eight-race Aqueduct card.

Trainer David Jacobson sends out the coupled entry of Starship Defiant and Taming the Tigress, both California-breds, in this six-furlong event. Starship Defiant comes in off a second-place finish behind a visually impressive Ain’t Broke who circled the field wide while Starship Defiant, a bit headstrong early, was trapped behind horses along the inside for a good part of the trip.

“She got in a lot of trouble last race,” said Jacobson, who has Starship Defiant in for the $62,500 tag. “She got blocked in and when she got out the winner had already gotten away.”

Taming the Tigress was competitive in California-bred stakes last year. Obtained by Jacobson early in the summer, Taming the Tigress finished a non-threatening fifth in this condition on Oct. 28 at Aqueduct. That race produced three next-out winners, including Lady Milagro, who won the Autumn Days Stakes.

Jacobson said Taming the Tigress had been dealing with minor issues since he got her, but “I got her really good now,” he said.

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Isaac Castillo rides Starship Defiant, while Eric Cancel has the call on Taming the Tigress.

The potential for a wet track exists as significant rain was in the forecast Tuesday into Wednesday, which could still leave moisture in the track come Thursday.

An off track could help the New York-bred Royal Poppy, who two starts back won an open first-level allowance in the slop. White Chocolate and Security Code, the second- and third-place finishers from that race, have both come back to win. Royal Poppy came back to run second in her first try at this level.

In a race with seemingly plenty of pace, Royal Poppy must avoid a speed duel but is drawn nicely on the outside to potentially be able to do that.

“We tried to rate her and she acts like she really doesn’t want to do that, she’ll definitely be forward,” trainer Ray Handal said. “Hopefully, it rains. She seems to do better in the rain.”

Downtown Mischief has shown the ability to handle an off track as well. A two-time stakes winner at 3, Downtown Mischief returned from a five-month layoff to finish fourth in the same seven-furlong allowance race in which Starship Defiant finished second. This race is at six furlongs, a distance at which Downtown Mischief is perfect from three starts.

“The distance should be much better for her,” trainer Linda Rice said. “I know she’s won at seven-eighths, but coming off the layoff I think she needed the race.”

Peak of Chic, a New York-bred based at Parx Racing, shipped to New York last month to win a second-level statebred allowance, capping a 7-for-10 campaign in 2023 for owner/trainer Michael Moore. She is 8 for 15 at six furlongs, but hasn’t done her best running over a wet surface.

Stonewall Star came off a seven-month layoff to run third in the same Nov. 24 race in which Royal Poppy was second. She does look to be part of the pace breaking from the rail.

Desert Dalliance, Bank on Anna, and Missy Greer complete the field.

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