Aqueduct
Them There Eyes aims for 3 in row
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Kathleen Feron is enjoying an excellent meet at Aqueduct, with 4 wins from her first 7 starters.
Them There Eyes has been the foundation of that success, with a pair of wins in as many races. The 3-year-old goes for her third consecutive victory Sunday in the $75,000 Gaily Gaily Stakes. She faces nine fillies and mares going one mile on the turf.
Feron also nominated Them There Eyes to Aqueduct's Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap next Friday on the main track, but this is the preferred spot.
"I don't think she's as good a filly on the dirt as she is on the turf," Feron said. "The Top Flight would be a tough spot."
A late-running New York-bred, Them There Eyes made solid strides this fall. It started at Belmont, where she captured a first-level allowance race before rallying for second in the Office Miss Stakes on soft turf.
At Aqueduct, Them There Eyes switched to the main track and won a second-level allowance before returning to turf to face open company for the first time in her victory in the Scoot Stakes on Nov. 9.
"She's been feeling so good this fall," Feron said. "She must like the cool weather. She was coming hard in the Office Miss on New York-bred Day but the turf was so soft. I don't think she was going to beat Cute Cognac that day, but she showed us she has ability, so we've been moving on with her."
Jean-Luc Samyn has the return call.
Trainer Tom Albertrani has three runners in the Gaily Gaily: Trouble Maker and a Darley Stable entry of Veneti and Calla Lily.
Veneti makes her grass debut following a fourth-place finish in the slop in Belmont's Storm Flag Flying Stakes. She broke through the starting gate before that race.
Calla Lily owns the best turf credentials of the duo with a record of 3-2-3 in 14 grass races. Most recently, Calla Lily missed by a nose at Belmont in the Chelsey Flower Stakes.
Mike Luzzi rides Veneti; Javier Castellano has the call on Calla Lily.
Trouble Maker ran in grass sprints in her last three outings. She was a rallying second most recently in Belmont's Xtra Heat Stakes despite altering course in the stretch.
Truly Enchanting and Sunshine for Life are on the also-eligible list. Four more were entered in the event of a switch to the main track: Homerette, Gipsy Limits, Scatkey, and Cindy's Mom.