Facing several of the best older male dirt route horses in the country, Power Squeeze finished a respectable eighth in the Pegasus World Cup. On March 29, in the Ghostzapper Stakes, Power Squeeze finished a good second behind Pegasus winner White Abbario. Suffice it to say, 4-year-old filly Power Squeeze gets a massive dose of class relief Sunday at Monmouth Park in the $100,000 Serena’s Song.
Power Squeeze, Javier Castellano named to ride, drew the rail for the Serena’s Song at a mile and 70 yards and was installed as the even-money favorite among six entered. No more than five will start, with Morning Matcha racing Saturday in the Ruffian at Aqueduct. Catherine Wheel also was entered in the Ruffian, connections as of Friday morning uncertain where the filly races.
Power Squeeze is a Grade 1 winner, having captured the Alabama over 1 1/4 miles last summer, and she has further form validating that performance. Her two defeats in Florida came at the entry box as much as on the track, and Power Squeeze at least looked like the same filly at 4 as she had been at 3. Last year, she was third in the Grade 1 Acorn and won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, all that as a reed-thin sophomore who figured to mature and fill out at 4.
All that, and Power Squeeze is far from a Serena’s Song slam dunk.
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Beach Daze is overmatched. Vincey Girl hasn’t been nearly fast enough in 10 sprints and belatedly makes her two-turn debut. Catherine Wheel, trained by Chad Brown, stands a considerably stronger chance than those two if she starts in New Jersey on Sunday rather than New York on Saturday. But it’s the filly Catherine Wheel defeated March 15 in an Aqueduct allowance race who can upset Power Squeeze.
Takethemoneyhoney has three easy wins alongside her loss to Catherine Wheel, but it was the defeat, as much as the victories, serving notice Takethemoneyhoney might be for real.
Going seven furlongs in her debut last summer at Parx Racing, Takethemoneyhoney won a maiden race by more than 13 lengths. She posted a couple workouts after the July 10 debut, then went to the sidelines.
“She just wasn’t right. We had to give her some time off, but that’s really benefitted her,” said Michael Moore, who trains Takethemoneyhoney for a partnership.
Back in action facing first-level Maryland-bred allowance foes going six furlongs at Laurel, Takethemoneyhoney won easily. Then it was on to New York for the race against Catherine Wheel. Going a one-turn mile, Takethemoneyhoney pressed a solid pace between rivals, briefly came off the bridle at about the five-sixteenths pole, surged again into the homestretch, put away the other pace players, and then responded gamely when Catherine Wheel came with her late, wide bid. Catherine Wheel got a favorable bob and won by a nose, but Takethemoneyhoney was back in front two strides past the wire.
“She did all the dirty work and then got nailed. We really thought that was a good race,” Moore said.
Bet to 1-2 in a second-level, one-turn mile allowance April 13 at Laurel, Takethemoneyhoney rated kindly just behind the leader, took over without being asked, and absolutely coasted to a 5 1/4-length win that yielded a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure. She’s the controlling speed Sunday trying a two-turn configuration that could suit her.
“We feel like two turns shouldn’t be a problem based on the way she’s run the one-turn mile. Even when she goes for the lead, she’s never sent that hard. She’s got that natural speed,” Moore said. “Obviously, Power Squeeze is a very good horse, but we hope the race flow benefits us. They have to come catch us.”
And they might not.
– additional reporting from David Grening
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