01/03/2020
Streaking Pauseforthecause tops Saturday’s LaVerdad at Aqueduct
By New York Hot List Staff
The 5-year-old mare Pauseforthecause brings a three-race winning streak to Aqueduct in the seven-furlong $100,000 LaVerdad. The New York-bred daughter of Giant’s Causeway is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for the owner/breeders Chester and Mary Broman.
She is in the best form of her career and has not lost a race since she returned from a two-month freshening in September in a second-level allowance against open company. The following month she won the Iroquois at Belmont Park versus state-breds. Most recently, Pauseforthecause beat a field of six in the open Garland of Roses at the Big A.
The 3-5 morning line favorite does have some questions to answer, however. Her career record of 23: 7-4-6 does not include a win at a distance beyond 6 ½ furlongs nor on a wet track. Rain is in the forecast for the New York area, so an off-track is likely.
“She’s really on a good roll and beat open company last time,” said McLaughlin. “It is seven furlongs and it might be wet – which both are not ideal – but she’s a different filly now. She’s won three in a row impressively. I don’t think the wet will bother us and hopefully the seven furlongs doesn’t, either.”
Pauseforthecause likes to race at Aqueduct where she has stats of 8: 2-2-4 which include a third in last year’s running of this race which came on a sloppy track.
“I think she’s a really nice filly and the New York-bred part of it helps her a lot,” offered McLaughlin. “We’re happy she won open last time and happy to be back with New York-breds this time.”
The 2019 NYRA circuit-leading rider Manny Franco will stay on board after guiding her to a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 94 in the Garland of Roses.
“Manny rode her well last time and won nicely, so we’re happy to have him back on,” said McLaughlin.
The LaVerdad is slated as race 8 on the nine-race Saturday card with post-time scheduled for 3:55 pm ET. Pauseforthecause will break from post-position 2 as part of a seven-horse field.
Analysis of the full Aqueduct card from the New York Hot List team, which includes the Special Saturday Pick 3, is available free of charge on this website.
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