Willet gets shot at open stakes win in Interborough

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Willet, who has won four New York-bred stakes, will try to win her first open stakes race when she takes on six rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct. Willet drew post 3 in a field of seven entered Wednesday.

Willet, a 7-year-old daughter of Jump Start, finished third to Expression in the Garland of Roses on Dec. 6. It was her sixth straight loss, and trainer and part-owner Jimmy Iselin was considering retiring the mare. She has trained forwardly since then, however, and Iselin wants to give her another shot at winning an open stakes and, possibly next month, a graded stakes. Iselin said several parties have expressed interest in buying Willet as a broodmare prospect.

On Sunday, over a pretty dull Aqueduct inner track, Willet worked five furlongs in 1:03.78, getting her last three furlongs in 36.86 seconds.

There does appear to be ample speed in the field to set up Willet’s late run. She will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

“We have no excuses going in,” Iselin said.

The field, from the rail out, is: Stormy Novel, Bridgehampton, Willet, Cape Cod Carol, Expression, Atlantic’s Smile, and Aireofdistinction.