Thanksgiving Day turf stakes subject to weather

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With temperatures not expected to reach 30 degrees on Thursday, it is uncertain whether the Aqueduct turf courses will be in use. If they are, they will host two stakes races on the nine-race Thanksgiving Day card.

The $150,000 Winter Memories, for 3-year-old fillies, drew a solid field of 11 for the turf plus one main-track-only entrant. The $100,000 Central Park, a new race for juveniles, drew a field of seven. Both are scheduled for 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Chad Brown’s uncoupled duo of Significant Form and Competitionofideas will likely attract the most money in the Winter Memories, scheduled for the inner turf course. But there are several alternatives including Andina Del Sur, Capla Temptress, and Romantic Moment.

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Andina Del Sur, trained by Tom Albertrani, won the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs in March. After an ill-fated try against Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Ashland on dirt, Andina Del Sur has gone winless in four straight turf stakes.

But she is coming off a second-place finish in the Pebbles, showing a different dimension by racing on the lead early.

“She came out running, held position well, and she did put in a good effort,” Albertrani said. “I don’t know if she’ll show the same type of speed again. She’s won from off the pace and run well up close to the pace. Maybe the soft ground helped her last time, too. She’s sharp and going into the race well.”

Luis Saez rides from post 4.

Albertrani seemed to be leaning against running Andina Del Sur if the race is moved to the main track, but refrained from making a final decision.

Capla Temptress is still seeking her first win since capturing the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes 14 months ago. She is coming out of a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said Romantic Moment would run regardless of surface. Romantic Moment is coming off a pair of third-place finishes in turf allowances.

“I thought they were both fine,” McGaughey said. “She settled in the way I wanted her to. She’s a little bit headstrong. I think we need to wait on her a little bit longer and see if she’ll finish just a little better.”

Competitionofideas has won her last two starts, both since the addition of blinkers. Significant Form began the year with a 6 1/4-length victory in the Memories of Silver Stakes here in April. She has lost her last three starts, mostly against tougher competition. She will have to work out a trip from the outside post.

Central Park draws seven

Three of the seven 2-year-olds entered in the inaugural $100,000 Central Park Stakes are running back on 18 days’ rest or less.

That includes probable favorite Empire of War, who is coming off a half-length victory in the $100,000 Awad Stakes run here on Nov. 4. Empire of War, a son of Declaration of War, is 2 for 2 on turf after two sound defeats on dirt.

Order and Law, fourth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Empire of War in the Awad, is also entered back in this spot. He is getting Lasix for the first time.

Order and Law would likely be a candidate to run on dirt as he was second, beaten a neck, in a six-furlong maiden race on dirt at Parx in the summer. The Central Park would be run as a one-turn mile if it is transferred to the dirt.

Wallace enters the Central Park just 12 days after running third in the Atlantic Beach Stakes here on Nov. 10. He could be the main speed on turf.

Five Star General is a dual-surface threat for trainer Arnaud Delacour. Five Star General, a son of Distorted Humor, won an off-the-turf maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths in the slop at Laurel going a one-turn mile in October.

Five Star General is out of the Bernardini mare Party of Interest, who is a half-sister to multiple turf stakes-winning mare Criminologist.

Market Bubble, Good Good, and Doups Point complete the Central Park field.