Stolen Star dangerous when fresh

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Thursday's late pick four sequence at Aqueduct attracted 49 horses, including a field of 13 New York-bred fillies and mares going a mile in race 8.

The baker's dozen in the race, for $30,000 optional claimers, includes the Barclay Tagg-trained entry of Factual Contender and Dancy's Angel; the Del Carroll-trained entry of Miss Baba and Keen Spirit; and several who have campaigned on grass for most of the season, notably Stag Dancer, a winner of her last three starts, and Whateverwillbwillb, recently stakes placed on firm and yielding turf in overnight events.

Among those that have been racing on dirt, prime contenders in a competitive field include Stolen Star, Montauk Daisy, and Fuego Grande.

Stolen Star has finished second in both previous attempts at this level on dirt at Belmont and Saratoga. Though she has not been out in three months, she has notched both of her victories fresh, including a lifetime best effort in her second start this year.

Montauk Daisy overcame some trouble to win her first two starts decisively. She hesitated at the start and raced wide when unveiled at Saratoga, and still won off by more than five lengths. A month later, she handled first-level allowance rivals by nearly four lengths despite lacking room on the turn and through upper stretch.

Montauk Daisy will try to make amends after settling for second at 2-5 in her first try at this level.

Fuego Grande is one of five entered for the $30,000 tag. A consistent filly making her 19th start of the year, Fuego Grande is looking for her sixth win, and has already won at this condition at 27-1, 22-1, and 6-1.

A showery forecast could work in favor of Pretty Partisan, a probable pace factor who has run her two best Beyer Speed Figures this year on sloppy tracks.

Seven probable for Stuyvesant

A field of seven is taking shape for Saturday's $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap at 1o1/8 miles. Looking for a Grade 3 victory are Accountforthegold, Billy Allen, Carminooch, Elements, Organizer, Reverberate, and Tinseltown.

Carminooch returned from an eight-month layoff to finish a close second in the Empire Classic behind Organizer, and will take on open rivals for the first time.