2/14/19
Presidents Day Weekend at Aqueduct features three stakes for New York-breds
By Matt Shifman
Racing at Aqueduct for Presidents Day weekend will run from Friday through Monday with three $100,000 stakes races for New York-bred anchoring the cards. On Saturday, it’s the Broadway for older fillies and mares sprinting. The Haynesfield will be run on Sunday with older males racing the one-turn mile and, on Monday, the Hollie Hughes gives them a sprint option.
The Broadway has drawn a field of eight which includes two stakes-winning mares from the barn of Linda Rice, both of whom are returning from layoffs. Rice is currently tied for the lead in the Aqueduct trainer standings with Rudy Rodriguez, they each have 26 winners.
Holiday Disguise [PP 3 – ML 5-2] has been away since October and is the winner of the Critical Eye at Belmont Park in May going a mile. She has a stellar 4: 3-1-0 career record at Aqueduct. Startwithsilver [PP 7 – ML 3-1] last raced in June at Monmouth Park against open company. She won the Broadway last year on a sloppy track.
“They’re both doing well at the moment,” said Rice. “They have each been breezing good. Both of them have a good record here at Aqueduct, so if they come out of their final workouts in good order, we’ll expect to run both and for them to compete.”
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will send out Pauseforthecause [PP 2 – ML 2-1], for breeder/owners Chester and Mary Broman. She had a December allowance win against open company and then ran into a runaway winner in the La Verdad on a sloppy track.
“Her last time out, it was on an off track and she had some difficulty handling it,” said McLaughlin. “She’s been breezing well since then, so we’ll regroup and take our shot.”
Gary Contessa entered Filibustin [PP 6 – ML 6-1] off a front running allowance victory against open company that came after a three-month layoff. The Bustin Stones mare has a perfect 2 for 2 record on the Big A track including a six-furlong stakes win.
Trainer Ray Handal has two in the field with Palladian Bridge [PP 1 – ML 10-1] and Absatootly [PP 4 – ML 8-1] who moved to his barn from that of Charlie Baker.
I Still Miss You [PP 4 – ML 15-1] returns to the state-bred ranks for Jeremiah Englehart after making two starts against open company at Laurel. She does have NY-bred stakes wins at both Finger Lakes and Aqueduct.
Queeb [PP 8 – ML 50-1] ships to New York from Mahoning Valley off consecutive victories at that Ohio track.
This weekend’s New York Hot List Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 and includes the race 8 Broadway with the following ticket costing $36 — 3, 4, 5, 6 with 2, 6, 7 with 4, 5, 6.