Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Horologist looks for another profitable trip to New York
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In her first start in New York, Horologist won the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational as the 7-1 longest price in a four-horse field last fall at Belmont Park.
That victory earned her a supplemental nomination to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland, where things did not go quite as well, as Horologist finished ninth in a field of 10 behind Monomoy Girl.
The competition is solid, but not Breeders’ Cup-esque when Horologist makes her second start in New York in Saturday’s $100,000 Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile Top Flight, which drew a field of six, goes as race 5 on a nine-race card that includes the $100,000 Danger’s Hour on turf.
Horologist is a New Jersey-bred mare by Gemologist whose claim to fame before the Beldame had been being undefeated on dirt (5 for 5) at Monmouth Park. She spent some time in Southern California last year with Richard Baltas before being sent to trainer Bill Mott last summer.
Prior to her Beldame victory, Horologist won the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth and was third to Monomoy Girl in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs.
Horologist wintered at Payson Park in Florida before shipping up to New York in time to have a bullet blowout in 36 seconds over the Belmont training track Tuesday.
“She looks as good or better than she did last summer and fall,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s New York-based assistant.
Mrs. Danvers and Thankful, both stakes winners going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, also are contenders in the Top Flight. Mrs. Danvers beat Thankful in the Grade 3 Comely here Nov. 27. Thankful came back to win the Ladies Stakes here Jan. 17 before finishing seventh of eight in the Heavenly Prize going a one-turn mile March 6.
“Looking forward to getting her stretched back out around two turns,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Thankful. “Never seemed to get in a comfort zone the other day.”
Mrs. Danvers finished fifth in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Feb. 20 at Gulfstream. Queen Nekia, the Royal Delta winner, has shipped in for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who won three races including two stakes here last weekend.
Lucky Stride has already won stakes this year at Tampa Bay Downs and Laurel, both at 1 1/16 miles around two turns. She shows a trio of bullet workouts at Fair Hill for trainer Mike Trombetta.
Nicky the Vest has surgery
Nicky the Vest, the unbeaten New York-bred 3-year-old, underwent surgery Monday to have a chip removed from a knee and will be out of action until mid- to late summer.
Nicky the Vest, a son of Runhappy, won his first two starts, including the Gander Stakes by 11 1/4 lengths. He was pointing to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 3, but was taken out of consideration for the race after trainer Jonathan Thomas didn’t like the way the horse came out of a workout.
Thomas said the surgery was performed by Dr. John Madison of Ocala Equine Hospital.
Thomas said the horse is convalescing at Niall Brennan’s farm in Ocala, Fla., and he expects the horse to be back with him by the first of June.
“It sucks, but it’s the right thing to do,” Thomas said.
Call Me Love back in town
Call Me Love went winless in five stakes tries on the New York Racing Association circuit last year. She ran a couple of strong races, finishing second to Rushing Fall in the Grade 3 Beaugay and second to Starship Jubilee in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
Sunday, Call Me Love will try another New York stakes when she runs in the $100,000 Plenty of Grace at Aqueduct.
Call Me Love will take on six rivals, including Regal Glory and Counterparty Risk – both from the barn of Chad Brown – and Kilkea, My hart bl on gs tod a dy, Platinum Paynter, and Xanthique.
“We had a few issues last year with her feet,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “Hopefully, I took care of that during the winter. She looks well, trains well. She’s not yet at her peak, but she’s doing well enough to run.”
Clement said that Gufo, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby, will make his 4-year-old debut at Belmont Park.
Clement’s major goal of the Belmont meet for Gufo is the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 5. He is deciding whether to run him in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy at 1 1/8 miles on May 1 or the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War at 1 3/8 miles on May 8 beforehand.
Clement said Gufo has been on a similar training schedule as Decorated Invader, who runs in Saturday’s Danger’s Hour, “but being a heavier horse, he might be a week or two behind” Decorated Invader.