Toni Tools goes against state breds again in Sunday’s Franklin Square; Rice enters formidable pair for Broadway

By Brian Bohl/Najja Thompson —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Toni Tools will look to continue her success in stakes races in headlining a 10-horse field in the third running of the $100,000 Franklin Square for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the inner dirt track on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Toni Tools has posted a win and a second-place finish in her last two stakes against state-breds, registering a half-length victory in NYSS Fifth Avenue on December 18 before finishing one length behind Dublin Girl in a runner-up performance in the Maddie May last out on January 29 at the Big A.

The bay filly is 3-2-0 in five starts since finishing her 10th in her debut on July 3 at Belmont Park. Manny Franco, who rode her in the last two races, will have the return call from post 4.

Pletcher’s other entry, Overnegotiate, was second in her stakes debut in the Key Cents on November 25 before finishing fourth in her first start on the inner track in the East View on December 30. Jockey Rajiv Maragh will ride from post 7.

Maple Mo, a daughter of Uncle Mo, broke her maiden on February 4 at the Big A and will now make her stakes debut for trainer Linda Rice. Antonio Gallardo, who piloted her to victory, will ride again out of post 9.

Bluegrass Flag, one of two entries for trainer Tom Morley, broke her maiden on January 14 and will make her first stakes start in leaving post 2 in tandem with Kendrick Carmouche. Passporttovictory, who finished second in the Fifth Avenue with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, seeks her first stakes win from post 8.

A pair of Kiaran McLaughlin trainees, Luna Rising and Out of Trouble, will look for their first stakes wins as well. Luna Rising won for the first time last out in a maiden race on January 22 and drew post 5. Out of Trouble will look to visit the winner’s circle for the first time in four start in exiting post 3.

Rounding out the field is Wilburnmoney, who is 1-1-1 in five career starts for trainer Gary Gullo, from the Bob Petersons Stable; Treatherlikestar, for trainer Gustavo Delgado, will make her third straight stakes start; and Bertranda for trainer James Noble, who will make her first stakes start after going 1-2-1 in five previous maiden special weights.

The weekend’s stakes action will start Saturday in the $100,000 Broadway for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going six furlongs on the inner track. Rice will enter a pair of formidable contenders from the field of eight in Flatterywillgetyou, for Everythings Cricket Racing, and Hot City Girl, for Lady Shelia Stable.

The prohibitive favorite at 6-5 on the morning line, multiple stakes-winning Hot City Girl will look to rebound in her second start of the year following a third-place finish in the Interborough on January 22 at the Big A. The 5-year-old finished across the board in his three career starts over Aqueduct’s inner dirt, Hot City Girl will look to get back to her form in August when she picked up a career high 95 Beyer Speed Figure, capturing the Union Avenue at Saratoga.

Drawing post 6, Hot City Girl will depart with Franco aboard for the first time.
Set to make her first start of the year, Flatterywillgetyou finished second, three lengths behind fellow entrant Court Dancer in an allowance race at Aqueduct on December 18. Previous to that, the daughter of Flatter finished fifth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park after winning the Bouwerie on May 30.

With two wins from four starts on Aqueduct’s inner track, Flatterywillgetyou will leave from post 4 with Cornelio Velazquez aboard as the morning-line second choice at odds of 7-2.

Rounding out the field for the Broadway is Court Dancer for Ara Aprahaian and trainer Jason Servis, who won last out on December 18 at the Big A; Splendid Gold, making her first start for owner and trainer Bruce Levine; and She’s All Ready, for Nirvana Stables and trainer James Ryerson.