Theophilia sharp but still has something to prove
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Theophilia proved in her last race that she could go a distance of ground. On Friday, she might have to prove she can be successful from off the pace.
Only five horses were entered for Friday’s $69,000 second-level allowance feature at Aqueduct, but several of them have the same front-running style that Theophilia employed to clear her first-level allowance condition at Belmont on Oct. 7.
“I think she should be able to track a horse,” said Leanna Willaford, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “I don’t think that should be an issue. She’s got a good post.”
Theophilia is drawn on the outside in a five-horse field scheduled to go one mile over the main track. In her last race, Theophilia jumped up from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and led every step of the way on a modest pace. She won by a half-length.
Theophilia, who will be ridden by Jose Lezcano, likely will have to stalk Uncle Southern, who faces open company after setting the pace and fading in the Iroquois Stakes against New York-breds, or Natalie Victoria, a hard-knocking 7-year-old mare who is looking to break an eight-race losing streak dating to May 2014.
Guayana, who had a four-race winning streak at Penn National earlier this year, and Sustainable, second at this condition going six furlongs, complete the field.
First post Friday is 12:20 p.m. Eastern, with this allowance race going as the third race at 1:20 p.m.
Key contenders
Theophilia (Last 3 Beyers: 83-85-80)
◗ Has two wins and a third-place finish to a repeat winner since going on Lasix.
◗ On Sept. 5, she finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length by Julie D, who came back to clear her second-level allowance condition Sept. 30.
“She’s doing really well,” Willaford said of Theophilia.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Theophilia. Trainer Bill Mott is 33-17-4-1 with a $3.21 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes at Aqueduct with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Guayana (Last 3 Beyers: 67-75-82)
◗ After winning four straight at Penn National, she ran third at this condition going a one-turn mile at Belmont on Sept. 19.
◗ She had some trouble but still did very little running when last of four at this condition Oct. 12.
◗ Could benefit if the pace is contested.
Natalie Victoria (Last 3 Beyers: 73-79-53)
◗ Does her best running when able to secure the early lead, and it’s questionable if she’ll be able to do that in this field.
◗ She has a 0-1-2 record from six starts over Aqueduct’s main track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Sustainable. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 8-5-0-1 with a $4.24 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan