Rossa Veloce has lots to like

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Rossa Veloce has speed, the rail, and is in career-best form. Her connections hopes she can parlay those tangibles into her first stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction at Aqueduct.

The six-furlong stakes for females drew a field of eight and goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m.

Claimed by Rob Atras for owner Robert Derr for $32,000 last September, Rossa Veloce has three wins and a second from her last four starts. On Nov. 13, she earned a field-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure for a first-level allowance win, which came after a New York-bred allowance win a month earlier.

Following a runner-up finish to Union Lake in the fog on Dec. 31, Rossa Veloce won a secondlevel allowance under Manny Franco here Jan. 27, earning a 91 Beyer.

“I love the way she ran last time,” Atras said. “She sat just off the pace, Manny had her in hand, and when he asked her to go she really kicked on. She’s pretty versatile; she can get in front or sit just off.”

Breaking from the rail Saturday, Franco will likely have to use Rossa Veloce’s speed to attain position.

There is potential for a wet track Saturday. Rossa Veloce has two wins over an Aqueduct surface labeled good.

Two years ago, Secret Love beat Rossa Veloce in the Franklin Square Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct in the mud, and they face each other again Saturday. The Franklin Square was one of three wins over an off track for Secret Love, who is coming off a thirdplace finish behind winner Easy to Bless in an open thirdlevel allowance going seven furlongs Feb. 10.

“I’m looking forward to running her back at threequarters,” trainer John Kimmel said. “The three-other-than didn’t go, so this leaves us here. Physically, she’s doing quite well.”

Dylan Davis rides from post 7. Easy to Bless also is in this field. Though she is coming off an allowance win at seven furlongs, her trainer, Jimmy Ferraro, said, “I always thought she was better going threequarters.”

Easy to Bless, a 10-time winner from 24 career starts, is 6 for 10 going six furlongs. Jackie Davis rides from post 5.

Mid-Atlantic-based shippers have won four stakes at Aqueduct this winter. Prodigy Doll, trained by Phil Schoenthal, will try to add to that tally. Prodigy Doll finished fifth in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie last out at Laurel. Prior to that, she won a six-furlong allowance race there by two lengths. Three of the five horses she beat that day came back to win their next start, with two recording career-best Beyer Speed Figures.

Trevor McCarthy rides Prodigy Doll from post 3.

I’m Buzzy, trained by Amira Chichakly, is coming off a nose allowance win, taking advantage of a swift pace that could materialize here. Katie Davis rides from post 2.

Fouette, Big Tentatations, and Self Isolation complete the field.