Sunday Driver tests longer route

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Trainer Carlos Martin was home Friday morning, trying to get over a chest cold. He has 75,000 reasons to get well by Sunday.

That's when Martin will saddle Sunday Driver, who could be the one to beat in Sunday's $75,000 East View Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies at 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct's inner track.

Sunday Driver will meet only five rivals Sunday, including entrymate Seeyouinmydreams, who, like Sunday Driver, is owned by Carl Lizza's Flying Zee Stable, but is trained by Phil Serpe.

Sunday Driver was put on an accelerated program, beginning her career with three races in 29 days. After winning her maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs at first asking on Oct. 14, Martin wheeled Sunday Driver back a week later in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes at one mile, and she finished second to Princess Dixie. Three weeks later, Sunday Driver again was second to Princess Dixie in the six-furlong Fifth Avenue Division of New York Stallion Stakes.

Now, Sunday Driver must stretch out to 1 1/16 miles, a distance all six horses will be trying for the first time in the East View. Sunday Driver is a daughter of Key Contender, who won the 1995 Suburban Handicap at 10 furlongs.

"This filly is so kind, so classy she seems like she'll do whatever you want," Martin said.

Edgar Prado, who rode Sunday Driver in her maiden win, will be back aboard on Sunday from post 5.

"When I rode her she was right there, but I was able to rate her make her finish," Prado said.

Martin's biggest concern is the lack of pace in the race, which could leave Moonlightandbeauty as the lone speed. Since adding blinkers, Moonlightandbeauty has won two of three starts, including a five-length victory in a preliminary statebred allowance race on Nov. 23. Before that, Moonlightandbeauty finished a dull seventh in the Maid of the Mist.

"We have her now as good as she was going into her last race," said John Hassett, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "Her hair coat is shining, she's bucking and squealing in the mornings. Sometimes that doesn't mean [anything], but I prefer it that way than have it the other way."

A potential upsetter could be Our Breadwinner, who will have blinkers for the first time after looking around in the stretch when beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Moonlightandbeauty last out. Our Breadwinner, working in blinkers, drilled four furlongs in 47.05 seconds on Wednesday, the fastest of 41 moves at the distance.