Maiden Beauty, Dutrow on upswing

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Maiden Beauty and her trainer, Tony Dutrow, are enjoying a renaissance of sorts this winter, one that could continue in Friday’s second-level allowance feature for fillies and mares going a mile at Aqueduct.

A 5-year-old daughter of Revolutionary, Maiden Beauty is coming off a solid first-level allowance win here Feb. 12, outfinishing favored Ice Princess to win by a half-length. It was her first victory in 15 months and gave Dutrow his fifth win of 2021. Dutrow, who has 1,976 career victories, had not won more than four races in a single year from 2018-20.

“I had mostly [bad] horses,” Dutrow said. “I couldn’t do any good. It was embarrassing. I’m not saying I have that many good horses now, but I have horses that fit in spots.”

In addition to Maiden Beauty, who fits well in race 7, Dutrow also sends out Full Moon Fever, a top contender in Friday’s opener.

Maiden Beauty was claimed for $25,000 by Dutrow and owner Tim O’Toole on Oct. 9. It took her three times to clear the first-level allowance condition this winter, but each race was an improved performance over the previous one. Her victory on Feb. 12 was her best yet.

“I would say she impressed me to the point where I really didn’t know she was capable of that,” Dutrow said. “That was a bit of a surprise. She’s just an overachiever. She’s in really, really good form, she loves the mile, she loves Aqueduct. Come May, the two-other-than won’t be the same.”

Maiden Beauty is entered for the $62,500 claiming tag. She will break from post 2 under apprentice Luis Cardenas.

Stand for the Flag is making her fifth try in this condition. Last winter, when trained by Jason Servis, she was twice a beaten favorite at this level. Since joining trainer Rob Atras’s barn, Stand for the Flag has been fourth in the Grade 3 Go for Wand off a nine-month layoff, then third and second in this condition in her last two outings.

Manny Franco rides from post 5.

There does look to be ample speed in this field, with Gracetown, who ships up from Laurel for trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer, and Timely Tradition, an 11-time winner who goes out for Ray Handal.

Two starts back, Gracetown won a first-level allowance in front-running fashion at Laurel. She has the meet’s leading rider in Kendrick Carmouche and breaks from post 3.

Timely Tradition, a 7-yearold New York-bred daughter of First Defence, is coming off a second-place finish to Letmetakethiscall in this condition going six furlongs on Jan. 18. Timely Tradition is well posted on the outside in this sevenhorse field.

Trainer Kelly Breen has the uncoupled entry of Persisto and Stay Smart in the feature. Violent Trick, claimed for $16,000 by Edward DeLauro on Feb. 8, is in for the $62,500 tag on Friday.

◗ As was the case the previous two months, the entire Empire 6 pool will continue to be paid out daily in March.