Tapa Liath fresh and fit for Friday allowance
There are a lot of ways to go in the seventh race Friday at Aqueduct, a competitive first-level allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares.
Cashconsiderations, a maiden winner at Belmont Park for trainer Chad Brown in her last start, is the probable favorite in the one-mile turf race. Other contenders include Fire Key and Buffalo Miss, who are both quick and will be stretching out from turf sprints.
There also are two runners who will be stepping up off $40,000 maiden-claiming victories. Complicating matters, it rained in New York on Tuesday, and the Aqueduct turf course will likely be less than firm Friday.
An interesting possibility is Tapa Liath, who will be making her first start in almost five months. Tapa Liath, 3, is from the first crop of Paddy O’Prado, a four-time graded stakes winner on grass in 2010 and 2011. Tapa Liath races for her breeder, the Blue Devil Racing Stable of SL Green Realty CEO Marc Holliday, and is trained by Carlos Martin.
Tapa Liath won her career debut going a mile over the Aqueduct inner track in February. She then finished third in three allowance or optional-claiming races on turf between April and June before being sent to Stone Bridge Farm outside of Saratoga for a vacation.
“Maybe she was a little mentally immature, but it seemed like she really wasn’t finishing off her races,” Martin said. “Marc pointed out she’d been in training for a long time and suggested freshening her up. They did a fabulous job with her at Stone Bridge.”
Martin said Tapa Liath is “a little stronger” than before her break. He has worked her seven times over the Belmont training track since Sept. 14, including five furlongs in 1:01.85 on Oct. 29.
“We’ve had her in a full training schedule over the new Belmont training track, which I think is a terrific surface,” Martin said “It’s a little deeper, and to go 1:01 and change there is a very good work. I got her coming home in 24 and change that day.”
Tapa Liath will be making her first start in 146 days Friday, and Martin is aware his statistics with horses coming back from similar layoffs are not impressive. He has a 20-2-3-3 record the last four years, and is 11-0-3-3 the last three years, with horses coming off breaks of 120-170 days.
It should be remembered, though, Martin won with Tapa Liath first time out.
“I get my horses fit when they are returning from layoffs, but I’m not cranking them up,” Martin said. “Her attitude has always been good, and she trains forwardly. I think she’s ready to roll.”
Key Contenders
Tapa Liath, by Paddy O’Prado
(Last 3 Beyers: 65-70-68)
◗ Martin said he wanted to bring Tapa Liath back in a dirt race but couldn’t find one, so instead opted for this turf spot.
“I think she’ll be a nice horse here this winter,” he said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Tapa Liath. Trainer Carlos Martin is 20-0-6-2 over the past five years in turf routes with Jose Ortiz aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Cashconsiderations, by Super Saver
(Last 3 Beyers: 67-42-46)
◗ After finishing fourth and third at Saratoga, she settled farther off the pace Sept. 28 at Belmont and ran down the pacesetter in deep stretch to get her maiden win. There is enough speed in this field to set up a similar late move.
◗ Javier Castellano, who has been aboard in all of her starts, again rides.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Cashconsiderations. Trainer Chad Brown is 50-21-11-5 with a $3.59 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with Javier Castellano aboard last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Buffalo Miss. Offspring of Golden Missile are 0 for 113 over the past five years in turf routes (46 different horses). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan