Yorkiepoo Princess sitting on ready for Ruthless

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Ed Barker felt good about the chances of his 3-year-old filly Yorkiepoo Princess going into last Sunday, when the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes was originally scheduled to be run. Though the race was postponed to Saturday following the cancellation of last Sunday’s card, Barker is equally as confident – if not more so – in Yorkiepoo Princess following her Tuesday workout.

Yorkiepoo Princess worked a half-mile in 49.74 seconds on Tuesday at Aqueduct, the fastest of 21 works at the distance that morning.

“She worked sensational over a really, really dead track,” Barker said. “I told the kid to go in 51, but she went off in 13 and 2 and went 36 the last three-eighths. Just unbelievable.”

Yorkiepoo Princess enters the Ruthless off a 2 3/4-length victory in the Furlough Stakes over Aqueduct’s main track on Thanksgiving Day. She made the early lead that day and kept on going. Securing the early lead Saturday could be more difficult with the speedy Florida shipper Waves of Blue in the field.

The cancellation enabled Barker to get Irad Ortiz Jr. back aboard Yorkiepoo Princess. Ortiz was suspended last week but was eligible to return Friday. His brother Jose, who had been named on Yorkiepoo Princess, is riding at Oaklawn this weekend.

“Irad knows the horse, and he really likes her,” Barker said. “She can lay off, or she can go to the front. It’s up to him.”

Barker also entered Kissin Cassie but said she would likely scratch due to sore feet.

Waves of Blue was a front-running debut winner at Gulfstream on Dec. 11. Trainer David Fawkes opted to skip last weekend’s Old Hat at Gulfstream, hoping he has found an easier spot in the Ruthless. On Monday, Waves of Blue worked a slow half-mile in 54 seconds over the inner track.

“It was 9 degrees, the track was powdery,” Fawkes said. “She did everything in hand, she galloped out good. I was fine with the breeze. She worked 59 a week before. She’ll be fine. She’s going to run good.”

Tiz Rae Anna, who was not entered when this race was scheduled to be run last Sunday, is coming off a four-length victory in a starter allowance Jan. 5. Completing the field are Treatherlikestar, who was a debut winner for maiden $40,000 claiming, Bride Street, and Banty’s Girl.