Aqueduct Stakes Preview: Libby’s Tail headlines Busanda

By Najja Thompson —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After running in a gauntlet of graded stakes to end 2016, Libby’s Tail will make her first start of the year in a field of five in the $100,000 Busanda for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for owners Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, the daughter of Tiz Wonderful won her debut on July 2 at Belmont and followed with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Adirondack this summer at Saratoga. Returning to run in the Grade 1 Frizette in the fall at Belmont, Libby’s Tail was just nailed at the wire to finish to second. Last out, in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at the Big A on November 26, she ran pressed the pace early before finishing fourth.

Looking to gain some class relief in making her first start non-graded stakes since winning her debut, Libby’s Tail will leave from post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

Todd Pletcher will look to enter a pair of runners in No Sweat for Starlight Racing and Sand Shark for Repole Stable. By Blame, No Sweat made her debut on October 14 at Belmont, where she finished fourth before going on to break her maiden by a nose at Parx on November 12. Sand Shark, a daughter of Hard Spun, broke her maiden in her second start on December 4 at Gulfstream Park, besting a field of 12 to win by a length.

With Cornelio Velasquez aboard, No Sweat will leave from post 4. Sand Shark will be ridden by Manny Franco from post 2.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott will enter Lockdown for Juddmonte Farms. A daughter of First Defence, she made her debut on November 4 at Aqueduct, where she finished second before going on to break her maiden over the inner dirt track on December 17 by 3 ½ lengths.

Kendrick Carmouche will be in the irons as the pair leave from post 5.

Rounding out the field is Frank’s Folly for trainer Kelly Breen and owner George Hall. A daughtger of Mineshaft, she broke her maiden in her third and most recent start on December 11 at Gulfstream t by 4 ½ lengths over a sloppy track.

Set to leave from the rail, Tony Gallardo will be in the irons.