OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Into Amore and Prides Crossing, a pair of 4-year-old fillies who to this point have underachieved in their brief careers, meet for a second straight time in a first-level allowance/optional $50,000 claimer that serves as the feature on Thursday’s eight-race Aqueduct card.
Prides Crossing was second and Into Amore fourth behind repeat winner Sudden Switch when they met in this same condition at Keeneland on April 3. Into Amore, trained by Todd Pletcher, was stalking Sudden Switch from second when in the stretch she cocked her head a bit and seemed to lose focus. She faded to fourth while being passed by both Prides Crossing and Save Time.
Pletcher, at the suggestion of jockey John Velazquez, is adding blinkers to Into Amore’s equipment on Thursday.
“Johnny seemed to think there was more there,” Pletcher said. “She wasn’t giving him everything she has.”
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Into Amore is by Into Mischief out of the dam Embellish the Lace who won the Grade 1 Alabama at 1 1/4 miles in 2015.
Prides Crossing, a $1.3 million yearling purchase by Larry Best’s OXO Equine in 2022 and trained by Chad Brown, has just one win from four starts. She was in a bit tight early in that Keeneland allowance before getting some clear room and finishing second by 1 3/4 lengths over Save Time. Save Time and Foreseen, fifth in that allowance, came back to run one-two in this condition Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Brown also runs Bells Beach, a daughter of Curlin who cost $675,000 as a yearling in the summer of 2022. She is 1 for 7 and has run second in her last two starts, including at 6-5 last out here on April 3.
Brown is adding blinkers to Bells Beach in hopes of getting an improved performance.
“I probably should have done that a few starts back,’’ Brown said.
Kiss Me Hardy and Toned Up, both coming out of claiming races, are in for the optional $50,000 claiming tag. Gold Lightning finished third in the same April 3 race in which Bells Beach finished second on April 3. She then shipped to Laurel Park and finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite in this same condition on April 26.
Donegal Momentum Poker bound
Despite getting beat a half-length as the 4-5 favorite in an allowance race on May 8, Donegal Momentum is still being pointed toward the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker Stakes at Saratoga on June 5, trainer Tom Morley said.
Morley said with the turf course having some moisture in it, he instructed Javier Castellano not to let the speed of the race, Big Everest, get too far away from him early. Donegal Momentum made an early move to hook up with Big Everest and the while he did put away Big Everest, Donegal Momentum was passed by Sherlock’s Jewel.
“Maybe we could have sat off that horse a little longer,” Morley said. “But I thought he ran very well. I’m not afraid to go to the Poker off that performance.”
Donegal Momentum, a son of Uncle Mo, has a 3-1-1 record from five turf starts, including a victory in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct. Last November, he finished third, beaten a length, in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
Jordan named NYRA starter
Scott Jordan has been hired to be the New York Racing Association’s head starter, replacing the recently fired Hector Soler, the company announced Monday afternoon.
Jordan has been the starter at Churchill Downs since 2006. He will assume his NYRA responsibilities May 23, pending relevant licensing, according to a NYRA release.
Jordan has more than 20 years of experience as a head starter and a leader in track operations. In addition to his tenure at Churchill, Jordan has worked in a variety of roles at Keeneland, Ellis Park, and Kentucky Downs.
“Scott Jordan’s vast experience and knowledge made him the ideal candidate for this position, which is vitally important to NYRA’s racing operations,” Andrew Offerman, NYRA senior vice-president/racing and operations, said in a release. “Beyond his skills in and around the starting gate, Scott is a proven leader dedicated to enhancing safety and preserving the integrity of racing.”
Davis, Maragh whip violations
Jockeys Dylan Davis and Christian Maragh were each sanctioned by HISA for whip violations in recent races at Aqueduct.
Davis was fined $500 and suspended one day (May 26) for using the whip seven times, one more than allowed, on Kolomio who finished second, beaten a nose, in a New York-bred allowance on April 23.
Maragh was fined $250 and suspended one day for using the whip seven times, one more than allowed, on Henry’s Hope who finished second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in a $20,000 maiden claimer on April 24.
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