Sounds Delicious may face a duel in Distaff

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association can’t actually wait for the weather to change, because by the time it does, the Aqueduct spring meet might be over.

The 13-card Aqueduct spring meet is set to begin Friday, and with the exception of the return of turf racing – weather permitting there are two grass races carded for Friday – it won’t look much different from the winter meet. There is no longer the transition from the inner track to the outer track because the inner track was replaced last year by a second grass course. Dirt racing has been conducted on the main track since last fall.

Spring often means the return of some of the elite riders back to this circuit. Irad Ortiz Jr., who won 101 races in his first full season at Gulfstream, is named to ride eight of Friday’s nine races. John Velazquez will be here Saturday after riding Friday at Keeneland.

There were only four graded stakes run during Aqueduct’s winter meet. There are six graded events conducted during the spring, leading off with Friday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. The other five – including the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 1 Carter – will be run Saturday.

Divine Miss Grey, Holiday Disguise, and Sounds Delicious combined to win four stakes during Aqueduct’s winter season and look to be the primary players in Friday’s Distaff.

Sounds Delicious was super impressive scoring a frontrunning eight-length victory in the Correction Stakes on March 17, her second race in two weeks. She is coming back on short rest again “but frankly as well as she’s performed – particularly on the Aqueduct surface – I couldn’t see passing it up,” trainer Linda Rice said.

Sounds Delicious breaks from the outside post in the eighthorse field and may have to avoid an early duel with Divine Miss Grey, who posted frontrunning victories in the Interborough in January and the Heavenly Prize on March 10.

“Just because we’re on the outside doesn’t mean we’re going to sit off that other filly,” Rice said. “I would frankly expect to be on the lead.”

If there is a contested battle, or if Sounds Delicious doesn’t want to go seven furlongs, Holiday Disguise could pick up the pieces. Also trained by Rice, Holiday Disguise came off an eight-month layoff to win the Biogio’s Rose Stakes for New York-breds. She then finished second to Divine Miss Grey in the Heavenly Prize.

“Last time we ran against Divine Miss Grey there was no pace in the race,” Rice said.

Divine Miss Grey has won three straight, all for trainer Danny Gargan and Corms Racing Stable. She did win an allowance race from off the pace here in December.

“We’ll let Linda’s horse go to the lead, sit second, and hopefully we can catch her,” said Gargan. “Linda’s filly ran a big race the other day. I’m hoping I can run her down. I think this race is a little tougher than the last one.”

Highway Star, last year’s Distaff winner, and new faces Berned and Torrent have chances. Anydayismyday and Picco Uno round out the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sounds Delicious, by Yes It’s True Last 3 Beyers: 97-87-83

◗ Comes back in 20 days off a career-best performance winning the Correction Stakes by eight lengths.

◗ She is 5 for 6 with a neck loss in February, her first start off an 11-month layoff.

Holiday Disguise, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-85

◗ Was no match for a looseon-the-lead Divine Miss Grey in the Heavenly Prize and now has to run down her stablemate Sounds Delicious.

◗ She is a two-time winner over a wet track, which may come into play on Friday.

Divine Miss Grey, by Divine Park Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-97

◗ Has won three straight, including an easy frontrunning score in the Heavenly Prize going a mile.

◗ May have to stalk Sounds Delicious, but she has been successful utilizing that style.

JOE LABOZZETTA/NYRA The speedy Sounds Delicious won two starts at Aqueduct in March by open lengths.