Verdant Pastures tests open company in allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Verdant Pastures, winner of the $250,000 Empire Distaff for New York-bred fillies and mares at Belmont Park in October, steps into open company for the first time Sunday in a second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claiming race that serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s nine-race card.

Verdant Pastures, a 3-year-old daughter of Colonel John, has raced only four times this year, but she has won three. Trained by Charlton Baker, Verdant Pastures has had a history of tying up, muscle stiffness, and pain associated with exercise, which has limited her starts.

Baker said Verdant Pastures “has been good since her last race.”

Verdant Pastures has won her last two races on the front end and likely will use similar tactics under Manny Franco in Sunday’s one-mile dirt race.

“I think she’s got a good cruising speed,” Baker said. “Once she gets into that cruising speed, she’s okay. That’s her style – break and get cruising and let her do her thing.”

Felini and Thirstforthecup also have speed that could test Verdant Pastures early.

Divine Miss Grey figures to be an outside stalking presence under Kendrick Carmouche from the outside post in a six-horse field. She is coming off runner-up finishes in this condition to Heavenly Score in a turf race Oct. 9 and to Jamyson ’n Ginger in a one-mile dirt race here Nov. 9.

In the Nov. 9 race, trainer Danny Gargan said Divine Miss Grey “was hung out wide the whole way, didn’t get the best of trips. But she got beat by a better horse. She runs hard all the time.”

Gargan said Carmouche will have Divine Miss Grey in striking distance of Verdant Pastures at the top of the lane.

“We’re going to collar that filly turning for home and try to outfinish her in the lane,” Gargan said.

Crimson Frost and Annie Rocks complete the field.

Sunday is the last scheduled day of turf racing on this circuit for the year.

KEY CONTENDERS

Verdant Pastures, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-49

◗ Was very sharp in her front-running victory in the Empire Distaff. The second- and fourth-place finishers came back to win allowance races in their next starts.

◗ Picks up seven pounds from her last start.

Divine Miss Grey, by Divine Park
Last 3 Beyers: 94-84-76

◗ Ran a career-best number when second to Jamyson ’n Ginger last out. Jamyson ’n Ginger finished last in the Grade 3 Go for Wand on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.

◗ Has finished first or second in five starts for Gargan. In her other race, she finished seventh in the Grade 1 Test.

Crimson Frost, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-69

◗ Rolled to a seven-length victory in an off-the-turf first-level allowance here Nov. 8.

◗ The trainer-jockey combo of Linda Rice and Irad Ortiz Jr. won three races Thursday and the first three races Friday at Aqueduct.