Timely Conquest gets a reset in cutback to six furlongs

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Timely Conquest cuts back to one turn and is back in allowance company when she runs in a competitive second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming race for New York-bred females that serves as the feature on Thursday’s nine-race Aqueduct program.

This race was one of nine in the condition book originally scheduled for turf, but was announced as being changed to dirt in order to lessen the load on the Aqueduct turf course.

Timely Conquest, a 3-year-old daughter of Accelerate trained by Mark Hennig, won a six-furlong maiden race at Belmont in June and a seven-furlong first-level allowance at Saratoga. The latter win, for which she earned a field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure, came by seven lengths.

With the $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes coming up a short field, Hennig took a shot and wheeled Timely Conquest back in 16 days even though the race was at 1 1/8 miles. Timely Conquest finished third, beaten 20 3/4 lengths.

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“I wish I hadn’t done it, but we did,” Hennig said. “She came out of it all right. We just felt like after that it was time to regroup, get her back to what she wants to do. I don’t know that she necessarily wants to go three-quarters, but it’s kind of a restart.”

Timely Conquest will break from post 7 under Dylan Davis.

Majestic Return, a 3-year-old daughter of Long On Value trained by Michelle Giangiulio, is coming off a 7 1/4-length first-level allowance win here Sept. 24. That win, her second start with blinkers, came over a sealed, sloppy surface. Majestic Return’s previous win, back in March at Aqueduct, also came over a sealed, sloppy track.

“She definitely loves a sealed track. It’s probably her best surface, but I think she can be just as fast on a fast track as she’s been on a wet track,” Giangiulio said.

Giangiulio said she added blinkers to Majestic Return’s equipment because in her training she was paying more attention to what was behind her than what was in front of her, Giangiulio said.

In addition to the blinkers, Giangiulio believes Majestic Return has improved simply because she’s developed physically.

“She’s tightened up a lot more,” Giangiulio said.

Kendrick Carmouche rides Majestic Return from post 8.

Giangiulio also sends out Silver Fist, who was previously trained by Chucky Lawrence. Silver Fist is 2 for 15.

Mz Big Bucks won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes on turf, but she did record her maiden victory on dirt, albeit over a sealed, muddy surface at Belmont in May. Trainer Michelle Nevin said she’d prefer this race was on turf, but said, “We’re definitely trying to learn more about her. You can’t knock anything she did” in her maiden win.

Jose Gomez rides Mz Big Bucks from post 2.

Tempermental, a 4-year-old Practical Joke filly, won this condition when offered for a tag in an off-the-turf scenario on Oct. 19. Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for that win, is back on again from post 6 for trainer Rob Atras.

Carbon, Cousin Kristi, Sweetest Princess, and Fontanafredda, the latter being the only one in for a tag, complete the field.

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