Aqueduct: Grade 3 Elite Power, NYSSS Previews

Posted On 04 Dec 2025

By Christian Abdo —-

Just Beat the Odds makes graded debut in G3 Elite Power

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Donna Wright’s Just Beat the Odds is set to make his graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Elite Power, previously offered as the Runhappy during the Belmont at the Big A spring meet, is named for the 2022-23 Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power, who won nine of his final 10 starts for Hall of Fame-trainer Bill Mott, including back-to-back editions of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint from 2022-23.

Just Beat the Odds, a 5-year-old Munnings gelding trained by Gregg Sacco, has hit the board in 11-of-12 career starts and has been first or second in seven consecutive races. Just Beat the Odds enters from an over seven-month layoff dating to a neck second to Surveillance over Saturday’s course and distance on April 12.

“Some horses need a race, but he’s a type that has come around quickly this time,” said Sacco. “The layoff shouldn’t bother him. He is a really solid dude, with a lot of talent. It is not an easy task to come back off a layoff in a stakes, but he’s really worked very well each week and has given us every indication he’s ready to run.”

Just Beat the Odds [post 4, Manny Franco], prior to his last effort, wired a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer by six lengths over dual Grade 3-placed Twenty Four Mamba in March here. The performance earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure and came off a layoff dating to last April when he dominated a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.

Just Beat the Odds completed his preparations when breezing a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He is a horse that is very talented and he worked very good,” Sacco said. “He worked super, in fact, he hooked up with a horse – not by choice – but it was OK, he drew away. He cooled out great, so we will put him in the Elite Power. It is either this or a conditions allowance, they all come up strong. You have to run a top figure to win either, but he likes Aqueduct and is on schedule for Saturday.”

Bred in Kentucky by Red Oak Stable, Just Beat the Odds is out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Bella d’Oro, a half-sister to dual Grade 3-winner Belleski.

Current meet leading trainer Linda Rice, who won last year’s Runhappy with Joey Freshwater, will send out a pair of New York-breds in dual Grade 3-placed El Grande O [post 1, Flavien Prat] and multiple state-bred stakes-winner Acoustic Ave [post 3, Jose Lezcano].

Barry Schwartz’s homebred El Grande O hops back into graded company for the first time since a third in the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham last March here. The dual state-bred stakes-winning 4-year-old son of Take Charge Indy captured a six-furlong optional claimer by a head over Acoustic Ave last out on October 9 here.

The performance, which earned a career-best 99 Beyer, was El Grande O’s first win in his fourth start since a local optional claiming score last December. The dark bay was third in his seasonal debut in February here and returned over six months later when declared a non-starter in an optional claimer in August at Saratoga.

“His first start back at Saratoga was somewhat of a debacle. He didn’t get underway well and was declared a non-starter – he made a middle move, but he needed that race,” Rice said. “He came back and ran very well, so we were pleased. We gave him quite a bit of time before we ran him back. This race, I hope that time will help him again.”

El Grande O is 11-5-2-2 locally with juvenile scores in the seven-furlong state-bred Bertram F. Bongard and the one-turn mile state-bred Sleepy Hollow. He was also defeated a narrow nose by Uncle Heavy in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers early into his sophomore campaign.

“I think he’s best as a closing sprinter,” said Rice. “He seems to like the winter at Aqueduct.”

A. Bianco Holding Limited’s Acoustic Ave enters from a third in the 6 1/2-furlong state-bred Hudson on October 25 here. The 5-year-old Maclean’s Music gelding was making his third start of the month, having also been second by a head and a nose in two starts over Saturday’s course and distance.

Acoustic Ave, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, was haltered for $45,000 in March here and has never finished off the board in seven starts for Rice, including three optional claiming wins, two in open-company. He is cross-entered in an optional claimer on Thursday here.

Rounding out the field is Grade 3-winner Full Moon Madness [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], who was third last out over course and distance in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on November 2 for trainer Michelle Nevin; stakes-winner Subrogate [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr.; and four-time winner St. Jude [post 5, Jaime Rodriguez], making his ninth outing and stakes debut for conditioner Benjamin Perkins, Jr.

The Elite Power is slated as Race 5 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which features the Grade 2 Cigar Mile [Race 10], the Grade 2 Remsen [Race 9] and the Grade 2 Demoiselle [Race 3] – the latter two award 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby and Oaks points, respectively. The blockbuster program adds the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way [Race 11] and the $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue [Race 8]. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Parker Boone steps up in $500K NYSSS Great White Way

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cash is King and LC Racing’s Parker Boone makes his stakes debut in Saturday’s $500,0000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Parker Boone earned a field-best 77 Beyer Speed Figure for his sparkling gate-to-wire score in an open maiden special weight on November 4 at Parx. There, the New York-bred Solomini chestnut zipped through splits of 22.36 seconds and 46.29 under returning rider Mychel Sanchez en route to a 12 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:12.36.

Reid, Jr. said he had high hopes for Parker Boone on debut.

“He’s a big, strong horse and trained very well against some good ones we have around here, so we had a pretty good idea that he was going to give a good account of himself,” Reid, Jr. said. “The best thing about him is he has a good head on his shoulders – we knew none of it would be too big for him and he acted great in the paddock and pre-race. He passed all those tests with flying colors and he’s ready to move on to the next step.”

Parker Boone [post 2, Mychel Sanchez], bred by Spruce Lane Farm, America’s Pastime Stable, and J. Gardella et. Al., Parker Boone, was a $100,000 purchase by Chuck Zacney’s Cash is King Racing at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

“Chuck Zacney and his advisors found the horse. It’s obvious when you see him why they liked him at the sale,” Reid, Jr. said. “He’s a big, powerfully built horse – deep through the chest with big hind parts on him. He’s an impressive looking horse to say the least.”

Reid, Jr. said they took their time with Parker Boone with one eye on the lucrative Great White Way – having nearly captured the event’s sister race, the $500,000 Fifth Avenue, in 2021 with the Cash is King co-owned Morning Matcha, who ran second to Yo Cuz.

“By July we were already talking about this race coming up. We tried not to rush him and line it up and get a good race under his belt before this New York stallion race comes up,” Reid, Jr. said. “We almost won the filly version of this race a couple years ago with Morning Matcha. It’s a weekend I’ve had circled on my calendar every year and it’s nice to get one there.”

Parker Boone worked a solo half-mile Saturday in 51.23 seconds over the Parx dirt, following up on a sharp half-mile in company in 48.82 on November 23.

“He went nice and easy. He went the half in 49 and change and under restraint,” Reid, Jr. said. “It was a good little leg stretcher to set him up for next week. He had his more serious work last week in company.”

Reid, Jr. said Parker Boone, who is named after the grandson of a friend of Chuck Zacney, should appreciate the added distance.

“He trains just as far as we want to here and has handled everything we’ve thrown at him very well. His exercise rider thinks the further the better for him. We shall see,” Reid, Jr. said.

Parker Boone is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed No Sabe Nada. He is out of the winning More Than Ready mare Christmas Cove, a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Coal Play. His graded stakes-winning third dam Tara Roma produced dual graded stakes-winners Cappuchino and Sierra Lake.

Trainer Anthony Ferraro will send out a strong pair in undefeated stakes-winner Muscle Shoals [post 8, Jaime Rodriguez] and maiden winner Hey Pal [post 11, Keiber Coa].

Ferraro is fresh off a successful title defense at his Finger Lakes base where he led all trainers with 68 wins to secure his fourth overall title.

“It was a fantastic season,” Ferraro said. “I’m blessed to have a very good crew. My assistant, Jesus Merced, has done a terrific job. All the people that work for our team is the reason everything works so well.”

Stonegate Racing Stables’ New York-homebred Muscle Shoals, by Redesdale, is perfect in two starts under jockey Luis Perez, beginning with a gate-to-wire two-length maiden score sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over fast and sealed footing on November 3 at Finger Lakes.

“He’s done everything right since the day I got him and he just seems to get better and better,” Ferraro said.

The bay gelding returned one week later to post a stalking 5 1/2-length score in the six-furlong Tin Cup Chalice over sloppy and sealed going.

“It was an easy race for him. We wanted to see how he could settle and get behind horses and he did everything we asked of him. When he did ask him, he just exploded, and Luis Perez just sat on him the last 70 yards,” Ferraro said.

Muscle Shoals is out of the winning Maclean’s Music mare Chevy to the Levy [45-8-7-4, $188,211], while his second dam is Grade 1-placed Secret Scheme.

Hey Pal, a New York-homebred for Ferraro, has made four starts at Finger Lakes, beginning with a trio of sprint efforts that included a runner-up debut on September 1 against open company ahead of fourth-place finishes in state-bred stakes in the Aspirant on September 22 and the New York Breeders’ Futurity on October 13.

The Bustin Stones chestnut stretched out to one-mile last out against open company and showed the way in an impressive 12 1/4-length maiden over a muddy and sealed main track that earned a 63 Beyer.

“As we kept learning about him, we knew the further he went the better he was going to be, hence the reason we took him out to a mile to break his maiden,” Ferraro said. “The timing of that race was perfect for this race and also for him to get his confidence up going seven-eighths, which he should like a lot.”

Muscle Shoals, Hey Pal and the filly Lifeisbutadream, who is entered in Saturday’s $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue, worked a half-mile in company in 48.30 seconds November 25 at Finger Lakes. They are scheduled to work together again on Monday at Belmont Park.

“I worked all three together. I like them to work in hand, and all stay together – the ones that can go on with it, we let them gallop out strong, and all three of them galloped out strong together. It was an extremely good work for all of them,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro said he is hopeful he can continue to develop horses that fit the lucrative New York-sired program.

“I think the New York program is the best in the country and with me being the breeder of Hey Pal, it is very exciting. I have two mares and I’m looking to add one or two more so I can breed in New York and hopefully continue to race in these type of races,” Ferraro said.

Hey Pal, a half-brother to stakes-placed Eros’s Girl, is out of the stakes-placed Freud mare Aspree. His third dam is Grade 2-winner Thirst for Peace.

Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Winners Win and Mark Parkinson’s Spirit of New York [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] will make his dirt debut for trainer Adam Rice.

The Honest Mischief gelding had made four starts on turf, scoring first out on July 16 at Saratoga Race Course in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint versus fellow New York-breds. He followed with a 4 3/4-length third as the mutuel favorite versus open company in the Skidmore one month later at the Spa.

Spirit of New York broke through at stakes level here in September, stalking and pouncing to a half-length win in the six-furlong Bertram F. Bongard against fellow state-breds. He will make his dirt debut following a 1 1/4-length fourth in the one-mile state-bred Notebook on November 14 at the Big A.

Spirit of New York, bred by Magic Oaks Farm, is out of the Candy Ride mare Unbroken Spirit. His fourth dam is Reine-de-Course mare Weekend Surprise, who produced the pair of multiple graded stakes-winning influential stallions A.P. Indy – a Hall of Famer – and Summer Squall.

An impressive overflow field includes dual stakes-placed Diamond Child [post 4, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Melanie Giddings; maiden winners Chummers [post 1, Flavien Prat] for trainer Ray Handal and Froutien [post 3, John Velazquez, blinkers ON] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher; and maidens Pure Mischief [post AE15 , Jose Gomez] for conditioner Adrianne DeVaux, True Legend [post 5, Manny Franco] for trainer George Weaver, Sunday Boy [post 9, Chris Elliott] for conditioner Jim Ryerson, Takahama [post 12, Joel Cruz, blinkers ON] for trainer Jose Armando Rohena, Combat Mission [post 13, Kendrick Carmouche, blinkers ON] for trainer John Kimmel, Hurricane Kaz [post 14, Silvestre Gonzalez] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias, the John Terranova-trained Dinghy Bar [post 10, Katie Davis] as well as the pair of Sicilian Dancer [post 6, Luis Rivera, Jr.] and Take a Stance [post AE15, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Michelle Nevin.

The NYSSS Great White Way is slated as Race 11 on Saturday’s lucrative 11-race program, which also features its sister race, the $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue for eligible state-sired juvenile fillies, in Race 8. The stakes-laden card is headlined by the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile in Race 10 and also offers the Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power [Race 5], as well as pair of Grade 2, $250,000 stakes for 2-year-olds in the Demoiselle [Race 3], for fillies offering 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers and the Remsen [Race 9], a 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifier. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

Daniella Marie set for stakes debut in $500K NYSSS Fifth Avenue

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Roddy Valente’s Daniella Marie will look to build upon an impressive maiden score in Saturday’s $500,0000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The NYSSS Fifth Avenue is slated as Race 8 on Saturday’s lucrative 11-race program, which also features the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way for eligible state-sired juveniles, in Race 11. The stakes-laden card is headlined by the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile in Race 10 and also offers the Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power [Race 5], as well as pair of Grade 2, $250,000 stakes for 2-year-olds in the Demoiselle [Race 3], for fillies offering 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers and the Remsen [Race 9], a 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifier. First post is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

Last year, progeny of Honest Mischief won both of the $500,000 NYSSS events with Stone Smuggler taking the Fifth Avenue and Sacrosanct capturing the Great White Way.

Trainer Chad Summers said he is hopeful that Daniella Marie, a dark bay daughter of New York’s leading freshman sire of 2024, can continue that trend on Saturday.

“It’s a big deal, a big purse and a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Summers said. “Honest Mischief won both legs of this race last year. It’s the Kentucky Derby for New York-sired 2-year-olds and there’s a reason there will be a full field in there. Roddy Valente is bringing a bus load of people down for the race.”

Daniella Marie [post 12, Kendrick Carmouche], bred in New York by Sequel Stallions and Scott Miller, faced open company on debut in a six-furlong sprint on October 5 at Belmont at the Big A.

There, she pressed the pace of For the Ladies through a swift half-mile in 44.96 seconds before fading to finish sixth in a race won by deep-closing Newtown Pike by a nose over For the Ladies, who returned to win by 7 1/4-lengths here on Saturday.

Daniella Marie returned with blinkers on last out on November 7 here in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden optional claimer restricted to horses sold or RNA’d for $60,000 or less at their most recent sale and romped by 9 1/4-lengths.

There, with returning rider Kendrick Carmouche up, Daniella Marie showed the way through splits of 21.98, 44.78 and 1:10.13 en route to an eased up 9 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:17.28. The winning effort earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure – a 17 point improvement on her debut try. The third-place finisher of that event, Lady Rose, exited to win by 5 3/4-lengths here Friday in a maiden optional-claimer.

Summers said the $40,000 OBS June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale purchase has earned her shot at stakes success.

“She’s a lovely filly,” Summers said. “We bought her in June with this race in mind. It’s not often that plans work out that way, but that’s why we ran her in the open race first time out when the auction race didn’t go – we wanted to make sure we had two races going into this race.

“She ran a sneaky good race first time out against a horse [For the Ladies] that was very fast and ran well,” Summers added. “She got a little tired – like she’s supposed to – first out and then was able to do what she did in the auction race last time out which gives us a lot of confidence moving on to the next step.”

Summers said the addition of blinkers has helped compose the lightly-raced filly.

“She’s fast and normally you wouldn’t think about putting blinkers on, but they’ve actually had the opposite response and they’ve kind of been a pacifier to her,” Summers said. “She was able to sit off horses a little bit last time. We breezed her in them before the last race and she went really well in them and she certainly responded well last time out. It was fast early fractions and the way she did it was impressive. Kendrick had breezed her beforehand and he rode her with a lot of confidence.”

Daniella Marie is out of the 13-time winning Any Given Saturday mare Blue Hen Madness. Her stakes-winning second dam Lottacosta is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2-placed Lucky Livi.

William Butler’s undefeated New York homebred Oh [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], by Honest Mischief, will look to double up on stakes scores for trainer Mike Maker.

Oh has made both starts in state-bred company which includes a half-length score sprinting six furlongs on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a pacesetting win in the 5 1/2-furlong Lady Finger on September 22 at Finger Lakes.

Oh, with returning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. up, made every pole a winning one in the Lady Finger, dueling with Margarita Molly through splits of 22.32 seconds and 46.21 over the sloppy and sealed footing. She opened up by 2 1/2-lengths at the stretch call and held off the late run of longshot Liberty’s Advance to score by a half-length in a final time of 1:06.06. The winning effort garnered a 73 Beyer.

Winning Move Stable, Sanford H. Robbins, Lady Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and IEE Racing’s Hot Currency [post 10, Flavien Prat] earned a 70 Beyer for her last out maiden score on November 6 here.

Trained by Linda Rice, the Central Banker bay has made all three of her starts against fellow New York-breds. She added blinkers last out and drew clear to a 6 1/2-length score in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint under Flavien Prat.

Rice said the addition of blinkers was key.

“I thought she was running a little spotty and that she was a little better than her previous race, so I tried them on her in the morning, and she responded well,” Rice said. “I was very pleased with that effort and happy to get three races in her coming into the stallion stakes.

“We’ve been pointing towards this race since August. A lot of times the best laid plans don’t work out, so we’re hopeful,” added Rice, with a laugh.

Bred by BHMFR, the $200,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase is out of the winning Spring At Last mare Calidez. Her stakes-placed second dam, Spina, is half-sister to Grade 3-placed Sassy Sienna and Grade 3-placed Newton John.

Trainer George Weaver will saddle a formidable pair of New York-bred contenders making their dirt debut in stakes-winner She’s Country [post 11, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and maiden winner Fancy Lights [post 2, John Velazquez], who finished first and fourth, respectively, last out in the state-bred Key Cents here.

West Point Thoroughbreds, James Politano and LVD Racing’s She’s Country has won 2-of-3 starts – all on turf – graduating on debut in August against fellow state-breds in a 1 1/16-mile route at the Spa by a widening six lengths. She followed with a fourth-place effort in the 1 1/16-mile Selima in September at Laurel Park where she hopped at the start and attended the pace before fading.

Last out, the Combatant dark bay stalked and pounced to a head victory over Cosmic Candy Girl in the one-mile Key Cents, splitting the runner-up and her pacesetting stablemate late in the lane for the dramatic win.

Bred by Twin Oaks Bloodstock, She’s Country, an $80,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the Malibu Moon mare Lunar Affair, while her stakes-placed second dam, Magical Affair, is a half-sister to stakes-placed Mystic.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Fancy Lights has made four turf starts, graduating at third asking with a prominent trip in a six-furlong state-bred maiden sprint on October 5 here.

The Galilean grey followed with a game effort on the engine in the Key Cents when stretched out to two turns for the first time, finishing just three-quarter-lengths back of her victorious stablemate.

Bred by Franklin Ave. Equine, Michael DiDonato and Charles Esau, Fancy Lights was an $80,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale. She is out of the winning The Factor mare Dawn Lightning, a half-sister to dual graded stakes-winner Anarchist and multiple stakes-winner Won Happy Mama.

Lifeisbutadream [post 13, Keiber Coa], owned and trained by Anthony Ferraro, will look to improve upon a three-length third last out in the Shesastonecoldfox on November 10, at Finger Lakes.

The Lookin At Lee dark bay, bred in the Empire State by Evelyn Burke, has made both starts over wet tracks against open company at Finger Lakes, beginning with an impressive 4 3/4-length maiden score on October 20 over sloppy footing under regular rider Keiber Coa.

“In her first race, she was blocked for a good eighth of a mile and once Keiber got her out, she just exploded,” said Ferraro, who recently secured his second straight training title, and fourth overall, at Finger Lakes.

Last out, she exited the outermost post five and tracked from the back of the pack before making a run for show honors.

“I think she just tolerates the wet track,” Ferraro said. “Her last race, she was lugging in a little bit, and I think she’s going to love the added distance. The track that day was speed biased and very tough to close on and she just kind of ran even. I think she should move forward from that.”

A robust field includes maiden winners Unmiztaken [post 7, Manny Franco] for trainer Keri Brion, Braverthanubelieve [post 8, Joel Rosario] for trainer John Ortiz, Greyjoy [post 6, Luis Rivera, Jr.] for conditioner John Terranova, and the pair of Honest Reason [post 9, Jaime Rodriguez] and Galileans Girl [post 3, Nazario Alvarado] for trainer Linda Dixon; as well as maidens Hip Hop Dancer [post 5, J.M. Rohena] for trainer Jose Armando Rohena, and Kaz Farm Girl [post 4, Silvestre Gonzalez] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias.

-30-