Tricky allowance key in carryover sequences

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Friday’s first-level New York-bred allowance feature at Aqueduct drew a field of 11, and if Ready to Escape runs his last race back, he’s most likely the right one. However, he’s facing winners for the first time, trying seven furlongs for the first time, and looks to have many challengers for the early lead.

Thus, this could develop into a wide-open affair, and one horse who could be live at a price is Mystical Song. Yes, Mystical Song is a 7-year-old gelding with only six starts and has not won since he took a statebred maiden $25,000 claimer at odds of 85-1 three years ago. He is coming off his best race Beyer Speed Figure-wise when he was second in a turf race at 13-1.

While trainer Gregg Matties acknowledges Mystical Song is probably better on turf, he also said the horse is training too good right now to leave in the barn.

“If he runs the way he’s been training, he’ll run big,” Matties said.

Matties, according to owner and breeder Ken Sherman, is the eighth trainer to have Mystical Song, a gelding by Pleasantly Perfect. Some of those trainers, Sherman said, never raced Mystical Song.

Matties said Sherman wanted him to teach Mystical Song to rate and he utilized that style in his last race. Matties said Sherman believed Mystical Song was using his speed at the wrong time in his prior races.

Raphael Hernandez will ride Mystical Song. Hernandez has recently arrived from Woodbine to ride here again this winter. Last winter, Hernandez won 14 races from 100 mounts. He had two winners pay more than $34 and a third returned $78.50.

Ready to Escape scored a front-running 3 1/4-length maiden victory on Dec. 13 going six furlongs.

“He trained great for the last race, he’s been training great since then,” trainer Charlton Baker said. “His only issue is if he breaks. Sometimes he doesn’t break that great. That’s the only concern there.”

Quest for Fire and Dark Ops show how difficult handicapping this kind of race can be. Both registered 90-plus Beyer Speed Figures in their maiden win, and both bombed in their next start.

There were carryovers in the pick six and NYRA Bets late pick five into Thursday's card. With the cancellation of the last three races at Aqueduct on Thursday, those carryover pools ($26,214 in the pick six and $32,495 in the pick five) will be available on Friday’s card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ready to Escape, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 83-67-66

◗ Prior to winning his maiden in front-running fashion, he finished second to a next-out winner coming from off the pace.

“I’ve run from off the pace before; I don’t think it’s a big concern,” Baker said. “Seven-eighths might be more of a concern.”

Mystical Song, by Pleasantly Perfect
Last 3 Beyers: 75-52-75

◗ Seems to be developing an off-the-pace style that would seem to serve him well in this race.

◗ Foot issues have plagued him throughout his career, but Matties said those are under control.

◗ Matties said he caught Mystical Song shading 24 seconds for final quarter of half-mile breeze in 48.80 seconds on Jan. 4.

Hokulea, by Mission Impazible
Last 3 Beyers: 69-69-80

◗ His race three back would put him in the mix in this spot.

◗ Has seven-pound apprentice Benjamin Hernandez, who has been riding extremely well this meet.