Verve's Tale, Blue Prize get rematch in Top Flight

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Verve’s Tale and Blue Prize staged a scintillating stretch drive in last August’s Summer Colony at Saratoga, with Verve’s Tale winning by a nose over Blue Prize. On Sunday at Aqueduct, the 5-year-old mares renew acquaintances in the $200,000 Top Flight Invitational, a once-prestigious Grade 1 event that has lost its graded status for this year.

Verve’s Tale has not won since the Summer Colony, but the conditions of the Top Flight – a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race – suit her perfectly. Her past performances show that she is 2-3-0 from six starts under those conditions, including a 20-1 upset of the 2016 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct.

“It just is the right spot,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. “We could have gone out to Oaklawn" -- for the Apple Blossom -- "but that was only a mile and a sixteenth, and [owner Charles] Fipke really thinks she’s a better horse at a mile and an eighth, and obviously she is. If you’re going to have to compromise, you might as well go to the place that doesn’t have the grade but has the right distance that she’s won at before.”

In her lone start this year, Verve’s Tale finished third to Martini Glass in the Grade 3 Royal Delta, a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park.

After losing the Summer Colony, Blue Prize ran second in the Locust Grove and third in the Spinster – both times to Romantic Vision, who had finished last in the Summer Colony. Blue Prize broke through with an 8 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap.

Ignacio Correas IV, trainer of Blue Prize, called the Summer Colony “the turning point” for his filly, “when we added the blinkers and put her closer to the pace.”

In her lone start this year, Blue Prize finished seventh to Martini Glass in the Grade 2 Azeri on March 17 at Oaklawn.

“I think with this race under her belt, she’s ready,” Correas said. “She has been working very sharp, galloping very sharp. I think it’s a good spot.”

Trainer Linda Rice has Crimson Frost and Just Got Out, while John Servis entered Miss Inclusive.

The Top Flight goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that also includes the $100,000 Mizdirection Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

KEY CONTENDERS

Verve’s Tale, by Tale of Ekati
Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-93

◗ Slow start cost her early position when she finished third in the Royal Delta on Feb. 19.

“She got out of it what she needed to get out of it to get ready for this one,” Smullen said. “She’s doing real well.”

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. replaces brother Jose Ortiz.

Blue Prize, by Pure Prize
Last 3 Beyers: 81-96-84

◗ Had finished in the money in her first 10 starts before finishing seventh in the Azeri last out when she tried to move into a hot pace.

“Everything went bad,” Correas said.

◗ Jose Ortiz rides her for the first time.