A field of seven line up in the $100,000 Key Cents at Aqueduct. (Photo credit: © George Zilberman | Dreamstime.com)
A field of seven juvenile fillies will line up in Saturday’s $100,000 Key Cents at Aqueduct led by a pair of runners that are going from turf to dirt in this six-furlong test on the main track.
It is a light day as far as stakes action goes around the U.S. The only graded stakes this afternoon is the $175,000 River City Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs and the $100,000 Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.
Time Limit is the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Key Cents. The Michael Maker trainee was the runner up in the Matron (G3) at Belmont Park going six furlongs in her last outing.
My Sassy Sarah (3-1) also is going from turf to dirt. Trained by Michelle Nevin, the filly was sixth in the Miss Grillo (G3) going long on turf in her last start.
Playtone (5-2) wired the field last out to break her maiden in her third career start, while All Over the Map (12-1) broke her maiden in her last outing for a $50,000 tag. Shadolamo (15-1) broke her maiden at Finger Lakes by 11 ½ lengths in her last start.
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Completing the field are Single Verse (5-1), who ran second in the Shesastonecoldfox at Finger Lakes and Big Q (8-1), who was fifth in the state bred Seeking the Ante at Saratoga on Aug. 23.
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 8 The Key Cents Post time 3:20 ET
4 My Sassy Sarah 3-1
3 Time Limit 2-1
2 Playtone 5-2
7 Big Q 8-1
My Sassy Sarah
This filly makes her first start on dirt after three trips on turf. She was an impressive maiden winner two back in her second career start, drawing off to win by 4 ¼ lengths going six furlongs at Belmont Park. She came back in the Miss Grillo (G3) stretching out to a route where she stalked the early pace, made a good middle move to get into the mix and then weakened in the stretch to finish sixth, beaten three lengths. She is by Summer Front out of a Street Cry mare that has dropped three other winners, none of which have won on conventional dirt. The Nevin barn is 17% winners moving runners from turf to dirt. Rosario picks up the call and the cut back to a sprint should suit her. Looks as if she is going to get an honest pace to run at in this spot.
Time Limit
The Mike Maker trainee set the early fractions, had a clear lead heading for home and got run down in the Matron (G3) on turf going six furlongs, settling for the runner up spot. She broke her maiden on the main track at Belmont Park in her debut and in her third career start was beaten just a neck in the state bred Seek the Ante at 6 ½ furlongs at the Spa. She set the early fractions and weakened to finish fourth in the state bred Joe A. Gimma two back. Her last out speed fig is tops in here and she owns solid early and mid pace numbers. By Bustin Stones out of a Freud mare, she seems better suited for the main track.
Playtone
Dueled for the early lead and drew clear to a smart looking maiden win at Belmont Park by six lengths in her third career start and second for trainer George Weaver. She had run second in each of her first two career outings. The $150,000 purchase is by Tonalist out of a stakes placed Songandaprayer mare, her first foal to race. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers but looks as if she is going to get a good tracking trip sitting just off the pace.
