Tullock has reasons to believe
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Tim Tullock believes there are three popular handicapping angles that point to his Sensibly Chic avenging her loss in last month's Barbara Fritchie Handicap to Cativa in Saturday's $150,000 .
First, there is the third race off a layoff angle. Three times in her career, Sensibly Chic has won in her third start of a form cycle, something she will be doing in the Grade 3 Distaff going seven furlongs.
Secondly, there is the bounce theory. Tullock said he believes Sensibly Chic bounced in the Barbara Fritchie following a career-best effort in the What a Summer, in which she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108.
Finally, Sensibly Chic is a horse for the course, having won 4 of 6 over Aqueduct's main track.
Another factor Tullock likes is the change in post positions. In the Barbara Fritchie, Sensibly Chic had the rail. In the Distaff, Sensibly Chic will break from the outside post in the seven-horse field.
"We were in the 1-hole going seven-eighths, which is never the best place to be," Tullock said of the Barbara Fritchie, in which Sensibly Chic was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Cativa. "The winner got a dream trip, and if you believe in the bounce theory - and I do - we were eligible to bounce off that 108 she ran in the What a Summer. If you believe in the bounce, and you believe in form cycles, I think we can make up that 2 1/4 lengths."
The prospect of a wet track shouldn't hinder Sensibly Chic, who won an allowance here in the mud last April. Ramon Dominguez will ride Sensibly Chic.
Dominguez will likely have Sensibly Chic in a stalking position just outside Cativa, who will most likely have to use her speed from the rail.
Trainer Rick Dutrow, who has won 8 of 10 starts with Cativa since claiming her for $55,000 in the fall of 2003, said he wouldn't mind seeing his filly on the lead Saturday.
"If she's in front, its going to make her that much tougher," Dutrow said. "She likes to be on the lead."
Edgar Prado rides Cativa, the 119-pound highweight.
Bank Audit has won 4 of her last 5, and the last time she ran over the main track she won a claiming race by nine lengths.