Wonder Gal goes for new owner in Ladies

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Wonder Gal, a 5-year-old stakes-winning New York-bred mare, was recently sold privately. She will attempt to recoup some of her new owner’s investment in Saturday’s $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct.

The Clearview Stable of Bernard Cleary purchased Wonder Gal over the weekend from owner Jeff Treadway. Though Wonder Gal was purchased primarily as a broodmare prospect, she was being trained for the Ladies, which closed Monday with a five-horse field.

Wonder Gal, who drew post 4, will remain with trainer Leah Gyarmati for at least the Ladies. It is unclear if this will be her last start.

Wonder Gal is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap, a neck behind Highway Star, who was also entered in the Ladies.

Wonder Gal was part of the pace in the Go for Wand, a one-turn mile, before giving way late to Highway Star, who nosed out High Ridge Road. High Ridge Road came back to win the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes at Laurel.

“She ran her race,” Gyarmati said. “She’s a big, good-looking, talented filly. She showed up.”

Wonder Gal is 3 for 16, with stakes wins in the Lynbrook as a 2-year-old and the Empire Distaff at 3. Though she hasn’t won an open stakes, she has been second or third in four Grade 1 events, including a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2014 and a second in the Mother Goose in 2015 at 3.

Wonder Gal, who finished third as the 4-5 favorite in the 2016 Ladies, will be ridden by Jose Ortiz on Saturday.

Highway Star, a winner of three straight races, likely will be favored in the Ladies. She drew post 3 and will be ridden by Angel Arroyo.

Always On My Mind, Chorus Line, and Jet Majesty complete the field.