Towhead returns for red-hot Maker barn

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mike Maker has enjoyed a terrific Aqueduct winter meet so far with 10 winners from 27 starts – good enough for second in the trainer standings – including a perfect 3 for 3 in stakes entering the weekend.

On Monday, Maker brings the filly Towhead back to the races off a 276-day layoff in a second-level, $62,500 allowance/optional-claiming race over seven furlongs that serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s eight-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m.

Towhead began her career sprinting on dirt before moving to the turf where in July 2022 she actually crossed the wire first in a maiden race at Saratoga that was declared a no-contest because of a gate malfunction that prompted outriders to instruct jockeys to pull their horses up. Back-to-back wins routing on dirt last fall/winter led to a trio of stakes tries in which Towhead did not run well.

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She has not run since finishing a well-beaten seventh in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico in May. She shows six works leading to her return.

“She tailed off, we gave her a freshening. We had a couple of minor injuries we had to take care of,” Maker said. “Seven-eighths probably is not her best distance, but this is a good starting spot.”

Maker is 15 for 69 with a $2.67 return on investment over the last three years with horses returning from a layoff of greater than 180 days.

Jose Lezcano rides Towhead from post 9.

Royal Poppy is coming out of a pair of runner-up finishes in this condition since she cleared the first-level allowance level on Oct. 7. Her only carer start at seven furlongs came in the Ruthless Stakes last February, where she finished fourth in a field of five.

“She had no Lasix and she bled a little bit that day,” said trainer Ray Handal, who gave the filly a 10-week break last summer. “She’s been good since she came back plus we have Lasix Monday, so it should be fine.”

Dylan Davis rides Royal Poppy from post 5.

Trainer Linda Rice scratched Bustin Bay out of Saturday’s $100,000 Broadway Stakes for this spot, which she deems a bit easier.

“The stake came up pretty tough, I think she needs a little easier competition,” Rice said. “If it were a mile I’d like it better, but we’ll give this a go.”

Bustin Bay, who will be ridden by Trevor McCarthy, is coupled in the wagering with Taming the Tigress, who goes out for David Jacobson and is ridden by Isaac Castillo. Both have Winning Move Stable as owners. Taming the Tigress is coming out of a fourth-place finish in this condition going six furlongs Feb. 4.

Tough Street, trained by Chad Brown, should appreciate the turnback to seven furlongs after two tries going 1 1/8 miles, one in an October statebred stakes in which she was soundly defeated. She was beaten three-quarters of a length the last time she attempted this condition going one mile at Saratoga.

Baba, Stonewall Star, Give Me Kisses, and Desert Dalliance complete the field.

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