Wonder Gal in it to win it
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Wonder Gal will make her 12th career start Friday at Aqueduct, but it will be the first time she has not competed in a stakes race. Her appearance in a $59,000, second-level allowance race also will mark just the third time she’s faced exclusively New York-breds.
Wonder Gal is 2 for 2 in statebred company and looms as the horse to beat in Friday’s co-feature. Wonder Gal is one of seven fillies and mares entered in this 1 1/16-mile race, which goes as race 3. Doctor Dempsey heads a field of nine males entered in a $59,000, second-level allowance for statebreds at six furlongs that goes as race 8.
Wonder Gal, trained by Leah Gyarmati for Jeff Treadway, was beaten as the 4-5 favorite in the Ladies Handicap on Jan. 10 by fellow New York-bred Saythreehailmary’s. Wonder Gal broke slowly and was three to four wide throughout before flattening out over a sloppy inner track.
“On that inner track, you really need to save ground on one of the turns,” Gyarmati said. “She was third; it’s not like she ran horrible. She ran hard.”
Gyarmati said she opted for this allowance race over Sunday’s $100,000 Biogio’s Rose because, “I just want to win with her.”
Daisy Cutter and Bella Joy loom as the major threats to Wonder Gal.
In the eighth race, the 6-year-old Doctor Dempsey makes just his fourth start and his second off an 18-month layoff. Bob Baffert had Doctor Dempsey in regular training in Southern California before sending him to John and Tonja Terranova in November. In his most recent start Dec. 6, he finished second to Rectify while going 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.
“It came up a little bit further than we wanted,” Tonja Terranova said. “He ran hard and just got beat.”
Doctor Dempsey will break from post 8 under Kendrick Carmouche.
Geaux Mets and Gypsum Johnny loom as the major threats to Doctor Dempsey.
KEY CONTENDERS
RACE 3
Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful
(Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-89)
◗ After winning the Empire Distaff nicely on Oct. 24, she has run two subpar races when a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Comely and the Ladies.
◗ May be best around one turn, as her runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Frizette and Grade 1 Mother Goose show, but simply looks better than the group she meets in this two-turn race.
◗ She beat New York-breds by 14 1/2 lengths as a 2-year-old sprinting in the Lynbrook Stakes and then beat statebreds by 2 1/2 lengths last year at 3 in the Empire Distaff.
Bella Joy, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: (76-73-67)
◗ In her last three dirt starts, she has two wins and a second. Was no match for In Spite of Mama last out, losing by seven lengths, but finished 8 1/2 lengths clear of Jc’s Shooting Star, who also is in this field.
RACE 8
Doctor Dempsey, by Harlan’s Holiday
(Last 3 Beyers: 83-94-79)
◗ Came off an 18-month layoff in December with a solid second-place showing in an 11-horse field.
◗ Has three solid breezes since the race and is drawn nicely toward the outside.
Geaux Mets, by Posse
(Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-85)
◗ Has a second and a win in two starts since being claimed by Rudy Rodriguez three starts back for $40,000, the same price for which he is available to be claimed in this spot.
◗ He is 7 for 13 at this six-furlong distance and 3 for 6 over the inner track.
