11 juvenile fillies go to the post in Sunday’s $500,000 New York Stallion Series Fifth Avenue. (Photo credit: Bigstock.com)
The Michael Maker trained Time Limit will look to turn the tables on the favorite in Sunday’s $500,000 New York Stallion Series Fifth Avenue at Aqueduct.
A field of 11 two-yea-old fillies will line up to go seven furlongs on the main track led by the even money favorite Big A, who is coming off a five length victory in the state bred Key Cents in her last outing at Aqueduct on Nov. 16.
The boys were featured yesterday in the $500,000 New York Stallion Series Great White Way Division, with Bank On Shea edging the favorite Dream Bigger by a nose.
The winner paid $23.40 as my second choice and we hit the recommended exacta with my top two picks, the return coming back at a generous $70.50.
Big Q looks like an imposing favorite for trainer Gary Gullo in today’s feature. She drew the rail with regular rider Jose Lezcano aboard again for the ride on the daughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Big Brown.
“I think that she’ll run a big race,” said Gullo, who won the Fifth Avenue with Dancewiththebride in 1997. “Right now, she’s training well and doing everything right. We caught good weather this week and worked her at the right time, so all is good. She’s one of those horses that’s a fighter. She always had trained well, had ability and the right attitude.”
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Time Limit (4-1) set the early fractions in the Key Cents but weakened to finish third. Her best career effort was a runner up two back in the Matron (G3) on turf. Manny Franco will get a leg up from trainer Mike Maker.
A couple of longshots that have a shot of getting in the mix include A Freud of Mama (8-1), who was third in the Matron and Classy Sadie (10-1) who was sixth in the Matron and has been better on the main track.
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 8 The New York Stallion Series (Post time 3:46 ET)
#7 Time Limit 4-1
#1 Big Q 1-1
#6 A Freud of Mama 8-1
#3 Classy Sadie 10-1
Time Limit
The Mike Maker trainee set the early fractions and weakened to finish third last out, beaten 8 1/2 lengths by the favorite in here Big Q. Two back in the Matron on turf this filly carved out the early fractions and held on gamely for the runner up spot. The winner Alms came back to win the Jimmy Durante (G3) at Del Mar in her next outing on Nov. 30. She was beaten just a beck in the state bred Seeking the Ante at 6 1/2 furlongs and her best shot of turning the tables is if she is able to shake loose early. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and if she does not feel much pressure during the opening half mile, she has a shot of taking this group gate to wire.
Big Q
The imposing chalk came back of a 2 1/2-month break with a career top effort winning eh state bred Key Cents by five lengths. She improved her previous top speed figure by 29 points. She finished behind our top pick two back when she was fifth in the Seeking the Ante. There is every indication she should not have a problem handling the extra furlong, but she is going to be a very light price in this spot. She has put in a couple of good morning drills since her last outing for the Gullo barn. But after catching 9-1 on this gal last out less than even money does not get the pulse racing here.
A Freud of Mama
The filly makes her first start on the main track after four trips on turf. Among those was a third in the Matron (G3) at six furlongs two back where she was behind our top pick. She failed to fire last out in the Stewart Manor, fading to finish a well beaten sixth. Her pedigree suggests dirt should suit her fine. She is by Freud out of a stakes placed Carson City mare that has dropped three other winners. The Maker barn is 13% winners moving runners from turf to dirt.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 3-1 or better.
EXACTA: 1,7 / 1,3,6,7
TRIFECTA: 1,7 / 1,3,6,7 / 1,3,5,6,7
