Aqueduct: Saturday Stakes Previews

Posted On 01 May 2024

Grade 1-winner Randomized returns in G2 Ruffian

By Mary Eddy —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Klaravich Stables’ Grade 1-winner Randomized will make her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian, a one-turn mile for older fillies and mares, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Ruffian is slated as Race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which co-features the Grade 2 Fort Marcy in Race 8 and the Listed $150,000 Elusive Quality in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Additionally, The Big A will host a Kentucky Derby watch party Saturday featuring free bourbon tasting, a premium cigar stand, live music and food trucks. Aqueduct will open to the public from 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. to accommodate a 10:30 a.m. first post at Churchill Downs for their 14-race card that features the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby in Race 12 at 6:57 p.m.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Randomized was named a finalist for the Eclipse Award as 2023’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly for a campaign that was led by a Grade 1 triumph in the Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales at Saratoga Race Course. She was last seen finishing a good second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff against elders on November 4 at Santa Anita Park when a half-length back of Idiomatic, who was subsequently named 2023’s Champion Older Female.

Randomized was bred in Kentucky by Richard and Connie Snyder’s Cove Springs. Richard Snyder said the talented filly’s accomplishments have been meaningful as she became their first Grade 1 winner and has helped to build the farm’s status as a top Kentucky breeding outfit.

“She really put our operation on the map so to speak,” said Snyder. “She was always a very forward type foal and yearling, and always willing and wanting to do whatever you asked her to do.”

Randomized graduated at second asking last March at Aqueduct and followed with an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park. She quickly bounced back next out in the restricted one-mile Wilton at the Spa before her statement-making victory in the 10-furlong Alabama, sailing to a four-length score over Grade 1-winner Wet Paint to earn a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure. She earned the same number next out for a wire-to-wire score by 3 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Beldame here in her first test against elders.

In the Breeders’ Cup, the daughter of Nyquist maintained a narrow lead throughout over Idiomatic and dueled gamely with that rival through the final turn, but was outlasted in the stretch and landed second a nose in front of Le Da Vida.

Snyder said he was thrilled with the way Randomized represented Cove Springs at the Breeders’ Cup.

“It was awesome – just awesome,” said Snyder. “We were so proud of her.”

Randomized has worked steadily at Payson Park Training Center since late March, and most recently posted a half-mile bullet in 48.20 seconds Saturday.

A $420,000 purchase for Klaravich Stables at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Randomized is out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare French Passport, a half-sister to the Brown-trained multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Smooth Air, graded stakes-winner Overdriven and the nine-time winning mare Super Phoebe, who produced multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy and graded stakes-placed Sir Alfred James.

“The Elusive Quality/Uncle Mo cross has been really good, but at that point in time we couldn’t get to Uncle Mo,” Snyder said of the decision to breed French Passport to Nyquist. “So, Nyquist was the next best.”

Randomized, assigned a field-high 124 pounds, will emerge from the inside post in rein to Manny Franco.

Brown will have two chances to secure his third Ruffian score as he also sends out Peter Brant’s graded stakes-winner Shidabhuti, who will rematch with Ain’t Broke and Fingal’s Cave after winning the seven-furlong Grade 3 Distaff on April 6 here. Shidabhuti was a half-length winner over Ain’t Broke as the New York-bred Fingal’s Cave finished third another 2 3/4 lengths back.

Shidabhuti returned from a nearly nine-month layoff to land the victory with a rallying trip under returning pilot Dylan Davis, pouncing from 2 1/2 lengths back to get up just in time. The effort was awarded a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure after completing the course in 1:23.86.

The Practical Joke 4-year-old posted a productive sophomore campaign last year when winning her first two starts, capped by a two-length score in the one-mile Busher Invitational over a muddy and sealed Big A main track. She followed with a third in the Grade 3 Gazelle and a runner-up effort in the Boiling Springs at Monmouth Park en route to an uncharacteristic off-the-board finish in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in July to close out her season.

Shidabhuti has worked over the Belmont Park dirt training track twice since the Distaff, most recently covering a half-mile in 49.30 Saturday.

Bred in Kentucky by Gabriel Duignan and Gerry Dilger, Shidabhuti was a $310,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the unraced Candy Ride mare A.P. Candy, a half-sister to the stakes-placed Bloodline.

Davis will ride from post 6.

Alifyfe Racing and Mo Speed Racing’s dual graded stakes-placed Fingal’s Cave [post 3, Jose Lezcano] seeks a return to the winner’s circle for trainer David Donk two starts after a dominant victory in the state-bred Bay Ridge in December here.

The 5-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem returned from a 14-month layoff in the one-mile Bay Ridge to lead at every point of call and draw off strongly down the stretch to post a 4 3/4-length score over the multiple graded stakes-placed Venti Valentine.

Fingal’s Cave returned four months after the Bay Ridge to post her Distaff effort where she pressed the early pace set by Hot Fudge, who marked splits of 23.57 seconds and 47.50 over the fast footing. Hot Fudge backpedaled at the top of the lane as Fingal’s Cave put in a bid to battle head-to-head with Ain’t Broke, but faltered in the final eighth of a mile and settled for show as Ain’t Broke drew off and Shidabhuti swept past late.

“It was a decent effort. She was maybe a little close up on the pace for seven-eighths,” said Donk. “The pace wasn’t really that fast, but they were still kind of dueling. It was OK. She’ll benefit, she needed the run.”

Fingal’s Cave’s extended respite followed a hard-trying runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Raven Run in October 2022 at Keeneland where she was bumped and squeezed at the start and closed from 9 1/4 lengths off the pace to land four lengths behind the victorious Wicked Halo. The game effort in her graded stakes debut capped a tremendous sophomore campaign that saw her win her first four outings by a combined 21 3/4 lengths, led by a half-length win in the state-bred Fleet Indian going nine furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.

Donk said he is looking forward to running Fingal’s Cave at a one-turn mile for the second time in her eighth lifetime outing.

“She has certainly run very well at the distance,” said Donk. “So, it is of no concern to go back to one mile. It might suit her even better than seven [furlongs].”

Bred in the Empire State by Chester and Mary Broman, Fingal’s Cave was a $75,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the winning Mineshaft mare Barbie on a Budget. Her second dam is graded stakes-winning New York-bred Seeking the Ante.

Ronald P. Stewart’s Ain’t Broke [post 5, Eric Cancel] has been a model of consistency since being haltered for $75,000 out of a 1 1/16-mile claiming tilt at Churchill Downs by trainer Linda Rice in September. The daughter of Dialed In has won 3-of-5 starts since and hit the board in the other two starts when third in the local Interborough in January and with her runner-up effort in the Distaff last out.

Ain’t Broke was forced to steady early in the Distaff when in tight amid rivals and dropped back to trail in last-of-5 through the first quarter-mile. She advanced into contention at the half-mile call when asked by returning pilot Eric Cancel before taking a 1 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call. Ain’t Broke powered home strongly, but was overtaken late to settle for place in her graded stakes debut.

Ain’t Broke won impressively first off the claim with a 5 1/2-length romp in a local one-mile optional claimer to earn a career-best 91 Beyer, and posted another open-lengths score in December when rallying from 11 lengths back to coast home a five-length winner. She was awarded a 91 Beyer again for another five-length victory on February 25 in an optional claiming mile here.

Completing the field are Grade 1-placed Green Up [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher; graded stakes-placed Soul of an Angel [post 4, Trevor McCarthy], who makes her first start for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr.; and four-time winner Traverse [post 7, Isaac Castillo] for trainer Riley Mott.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Nothing Better looks to resume where he left off in $150K Elusive Quality

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Colts Neck Stables’ multiple stakes-winner Nothing Better headlines a strong field of nine veterans in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Elusive Quality, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Jorge Duarte, Jr., the 7-year-old Munnings gelding returns from a near six-month layoff dating to an impressive victory in the six-furlong Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship in November. There, he broke sharply under returning rider Dylan Davis to lead by one length at each call through swift splits of 21.90 seconds, 44.38, and 55.70 with enough in the tank to finish a 1 3/4-length winner in 1:07.27 over the firm outer turf.

Last year, Nothing Better’s seasonal debut came in a local optional claimer where he set the six-furlong outer turf course record finishing in 1:06.80 over firm going on April 13. He has breezed extensively at Colts Neck Stables in New Jersey for his return, including a bullet half-mile over turf in 52.50 Friday

“Nothing Better is like they say, ‘a horse for course.’ He loves Aqueduct and he loves a firm turf, and I think we might get that with the weather coming up,” said Duarte, Jr. “It’s an hour from the farm and our training center and he runs well there, why change it?”

Nothing Better exited his record-setting effort with a neck defeat to dual Grade 3-winner Beer Can Man in the five-furlong Jim McKay Turf Sprint on May 20 Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course. He next set the pace in the six-furlong Grade 1 Jaipur on June 10 Belmont Stakes Day at Belmont Park, where he faded to fifth late, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Caravel.

With a strong performance Saturday, Duarte, Jr. said that he hopes to return to this year’s Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing, set for 5 1/2 furlongs on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course. The Jaipur offers a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint which will be contested at five furlongs in November at Del Mar

“He’s getting a little older now but seems well. If he’s good, he could set us up to probably go to the Jaipur,” said Duarte, Jr. “This year is attractive, it is at Saratoga and a half-furlong less. It comes down to him and if he comes back to form, but I think he’s doing well.”

Nothing Better’s other stakes scores came in 2022 with a frontrunning effort in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship after a prominent score in the 5 1/2-furlong Rainbow Heir in August at Monmouth Park.

“When he gets loose on the lead, he is tough to get by,” Duarte, Jr. said. “He runs well fresh. My barn doesn’t always run great off the layoff, but as an individual, he runs well.”

Nothing Better has surpassed the half-million mark in career earnings with $566,217 through a 25-9-5-3 record.

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Nothing Better is out of the Irish-bred Duke of Marmalade mare One True Love – a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Folk Opera. He was a $230,000 purchase at the 2019 OBS April Sale.

Davis will be aboard from post 4.

Trainer David Donk will send out a pair of half-brothers in dual graded stakes-placed Thin White Duke [post 9, Trevor McCarthy] and graded stakes-placed Yes and Yes [post 1, Jose Gomez] – both are out of the Distorted Humor mare Aberdeen Alley.

The New York-bred Thin White Duke, owned by breeder and former trainer Phil Gleaves, in partnership with Steven Crist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard, was last seen finishing eighth in the aforementioned Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship won by Nothing Better.

The 6-year-old Dominus gelding previously ran twice over the Aqueduct main track in October finishing third in the 6 1/2-furlong state-bred Hudson after runner-up honors in the off-the-turf six-furlong Belmont Turf Sprint. The highlights of Thin White Duke’s past campaign came over the summer at Saratoga, finishing third in the Grade 3 Troy for the second consecutive year and winning the Harvey Pack over multiple graded stakes-winner Big Invasion, both at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Last year, Thin White Duke finished fourth in the Elusive Quality before running tenth in the Jaipur.

The Kentucky-bred Yes and Yes, bred and owned by Gleaves with Joseph R. Straus, Jr. and the Estate of Hugh Fitzsimons, Jr., ran a close second in last year’s Elusive Quality, beaten a nose by Anaconda after taking the lead with a sixteenth remaining. The 8-year-old Sidney’s Candy gelding then finished ninth in the Jaipur after traveling in last-of-14 following a bump at the break.

The seasoned turf sprinter Yes and Yes seeks his first stakes score after finishing a close second in August’s Select at Monmouth and July’s Van Clief at Colonial Downs, before an off-the-board finish in the Belmont Turf Sprint.

Diamond M Stables and breeder J and N Stables Grade 3-winning New York-bred Dancing Buck [post 5, Manny Franco] looks to improve upon close second-place finishes beaten a half-length in both December’s Grade 2 Joe Hernandez and March’s Grade 3 San Simeon, sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita Park.

The 6-year-old War Dancer gelding returns to the care of trainer Michelle Nevin after making his West Coast outings for conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr. His previous 18 starts came on the NYRA-circuit for Nevin and included a win in the 2022 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint that October at Belmont at the Big A after a nose defeat to Thin White Duke in the Lucky Coin at Saratoga.

“He’s doing well. He’s a hard-knocking horse. A trier,” said Nevin.

Out of the multiple stakes-placed Catienus mare Frivolous Buck, Dancing Buck is a full-brother to Mz Big Bucks, who won the 2023 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series last June at Belmont Park.

Gatsas Stables, Steven Schoenfeld, and trainer John Terranova’s graded stakes-placed Our Shot [post 2, Romero Maragh] was a last out fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Shakertown on April 6 at Keeneland and is cross-entered in Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

In the Shakertown, the 5-year-old Kantharos gelding found himself 6 1/4-lengths back in ninth-of-12 early before climbing to fourth in the stretch, missing place-honors by less than one length as he closed between Grade 1-winner Mischief Magic and stakes-winner Eamonn in the event won by multiple graded stakes-winner Arzak.

Rounding out the field are Durante [post 8, Isaac Castillo], a Grade 3-winner on the main track for owner/trainer David Jacobson; Charles Matses’ stakes-winner Alogon [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Edward Allard; and a pair of stakes-placed runners in Mike Rutherford’s American Monarch [post 6, Jose Lezcano] for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Charles Hallas’ Bring Me a Check [post 3, Eric Cancel] for conditioner Patrick Reynolds.

The Elusive Quality is slated for Race 9 on Saturday’s 11-race card that also features the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy [Race 8] at nine furlongs on the turf for older horses and the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian at a one-turn mile for older fillies and mares [Race 10]. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern with the facility open to the public from 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. to accommodate a 10:30 a.m. first post at Churchill Downs for their 14-race card that features the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby in Race 12 at 6:57 p.m. The Big A will host a Kentucky Derby watch party Saturday featuring free bourbon tasting, a premium cigar stand, live music and food trucks.

-30-

Contact: Christian Abdo

-30-