Willet wheels back on short rest for Garland of Roses
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Running Willet back on short rest worked so well last year that trainer and partial owner Jimmy Iselin is trying it again when Willet meets as many as eight rivals Saturday in the $100,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct.
Willet, a four-time New York-bred stakes-winning mare, is coming off the worst performance of her career – a 7 1/2-length loss Nov. 28 in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap. Last year, Willet was beaten six lengths in the Go for Wand and came back eight days later to win the Touch of Love Stakes against New York-breds.
“If we could do this quick turnaround again, it would be a great accomplishment for her,” Iselin said. “She’s doing so well. There’s no reason not to run her.”
Last year, the Touch of Love was run on Aqueduct’s main track at 7 1/2 furlongs. The Garland of Roses is run at six furlongs on the inner track. Willet is 5 for 9 at six furlongs, and in December 2011, she won her only start over the inner track, a New York-bred allowance, by 3 3/4 lengths.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Willet. Trainer James Iselin is 28-3-6-1 with a $0.65 ROI over the past five years when running horses back within two weeks. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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When Willet ran back in the Touch of Love last year, Iselin cut back on the dosage of Lasix he administered to the mare. Iselin said he plans to do the same Saturday.
Iselin also is making a rider switch from Dylan Davis to Angel Arroyo, who is 2 for 3 aboard Willet.
Nine were entered in the Garland of Roses, but it remains to be seen how many will start. Joya Real, second in the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap at Parx on Sept. 1 in her last start, and Winning Image, the winner of the Cornucopia Stakes at Parx on Oct. 11 in her last out, are both cross-entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel, which drew a 13-horse field.
As of Thursday, the respective trainers of both horses had not decided where their horses were going to run.
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Key contenders
Willet (Last 3 Beyers: 82-90-91)
* Iselin couldn’t come up with a plausible excuse for Willet’s Go for Wand performance but said the filly came out of the race well enough to wheel back.
“If Willet runs her race, she should do well,” Iselin said. “There’s nothing wrong with her. There’s no reason not to run. If the forecast is for rain, she runs well on an off track. What happened last time? I don’t know what to say.”
Bridgehampton (Last 3 Beyers: 51-89-90)
* Like Willet, Bridgehampton is coming off a terrible race, finishing last in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Sept. 20. That day, she chased La Verdad through a half-mile in 43.78 seconds before tiring.
* In the spring, Bridgehampton rebounded from a 17 1/2-length loss in Grade 2 Distaff to win the $75,000 My Juliet Stakes at Parx.
* She won her only race over the inner track.
Expression (Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-80)
* Comes off a neck loss in a second-level allowance when forced five wide in the stretch.
* Loves the inner track, with five wins from nine starts.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Willet. Trainer James Iselin is 28-3-6-1 with a $0.65 ROI over the past five years when running horses back within two weeks. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan