Zada Belle lands in good spot

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Albertrani had a bit of a rough start to Aqueduct's inner-track meet, going winless with his first 12 starters with seven third-place finishes. The worm began to turn last Friday when Noble Sound won an allowance race.

Things are looking even brighter as Albertrani prepares to run Zada Belle in Thursday's $65,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct. First, there were enough entries to fill the race, which was not the case for last month's Garland of Roses, in which Zada Belle had been entered.

Second, the speedy Zada Belle drew the outside in a six-horse field, a post that will allow jockey Ramon Dominguez to keep an eye on the other speed in the six-furlong race. Finally, A Rose for You - a winner of three straight races - was expected to scratch in order to run in Tuesday night's New Year's Eve Stakes at Mountaineer, according to her trainer, Michael Trombetta.

Zada Belle will be making her first start for Albertrani since the filly was transferred from Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Stable to his Darley operation. Zada Belle has won 5 of 8 starts, with her only three losses coming in graded stakes to familiar names Ventura, Indian Blessing, and Any Limit.

In her most recent start, Zada Belle won the Seton Hall Stakes at the Meadowlands. In that race, she dueled outside of Shananie's Song before drawing away after one smack of jockey Stewart Elliott's whip.

The same scenario could shape up in the Interborough where Coli Bear could make the lead from the rail under Rajiv Maragh. Albertrani said Zada Belle likes to get into the race early which is why "I'm glad we're on the outside,'' he said. "If she breaks sharp enough she can go about her own business. If we get outrun a little bit she's likely to be a little bit off it.''

Blowing Kisses and Are We Dreamin are the ones with a chance to upset. Blowing Kisses, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Pussycat Doll, won a first-level allowance at Philadelphia Park, while Are We Dreamin cuts back to her preferred distance off an overnight stakes win around two turns here on Dec. 12.

New Year's Day is one of the most highly attended cards of the inner-track meet due in large part to the 2009 NYRA calendar. Fans will receive a calendar with the purchase of a program or they can buy a $1 calendar coupon, limit five per person.