Staten Island cast difficult to gauge
The $125,000 Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday has brought together an odd group of fillies and mares who will meet at seven furlongs.
Vicki’s Dancer won the Staten Island a year ago. But she has made her last five starts, dating back to June, on turf. She was claimed by Rudy Rodriguez for $40,000 two starts back.
Similarly, Old Harbor, the winner of the New York-bred John Hettinger at Belmont Park in September, hasn’t raced on dirt since May 2014.
Maybe the best thing to do is to keep it simple. Sheriffa has the best early speed and is likely to have things her own way on the front end. All you have to do is draw a line through her last race, an open, second-level optional claimer in which she set the pace and tired to finish seventh.
Staten Island, race 8
Key contenders
Sheriffa (Last 3 Beyers: 50-87-79)
◗ She was making her first start in close to four months last time out and might have needed the start. The winner, Kirova, rallied from well back to score her second straight victory. Sheriffa has a steady pattern of five works since that race for trainer Linda Rice.
Take Issue (Last 3 Beyers: 71-55-59)
◗ A 3-year-old, she likely will be overlooked in the betting. She finished a closing third last time out in a statebred, second-level optional claimer against more experienced rivals. The winner, Here’s Zealicious, has 13 career victories. The runner-up, Scat Away, came back to dead heat for the win in a second-level race in her next start.
◗ In April, Take Issue closed well against her own age group to win a New York Stallion Stakes.
◗ Toby Sheets, her co-owner and breeder, is Steve Asmussen’s New York-based assistant trainer.
Vicki’s Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 82-77-78)
◗ She hasn’t won in nine starts this year, but her Beyer Speed Figures show that she is well spotted. She’ll be closing late.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Vicki’s Dancer. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is 8-3-2-1 with a $5.83 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt in the second start following a claim. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Saythreehailmary’s (Last 3 Beyers: 82-66-65)
◗ She finished fourth to Wonder Gal in the Empire Classic Distaff going 1 1/16 miles last time out for John Morrison and will be facing easier here. The shorter distance of this race may be more to her liking.
Old Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 84-91-84)
◗ Five-time winner has been consistent for Russell Cash, but it is hard to predict how she will handle the main track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Old Harbor. Trainer Russell Cash is 23-0-1-1 over the past five years going turf to dirt and route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Dreamboat Annie (Last 3 Beyers: 32-48-76)
◗ She won three of her first four starts, including a Stallion Stakes, but was no match for the amazing Lady Shipman in the open Coronation Cup at Saratoga. She tired badly going a mile on turf in a Stallion Stakes last time out but is better than she showed that day. This 3-year-old Leah Gyarmati trainee has the potential to improve markedly at a big price.