Carrumba ends long layoff in Distaff

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Carrumba won the Grade 3 Top Flight Stakes in her seasonal debut last year, trainer Shug McGaughey felt he might have made a mistake by running the filly nine furlongs off a 134-day layoff.

Carrumba ran three more times in 2016, and though she ran well, she did not win. The decision was made to stop on her last summer. On Sunday, Carrumba returns from a 252-day layoff in the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct. The Distaff, run at seven furlongs, is a race McGaughey hopes will propel Carrumba to graded stakes at longer distances later in the year.

“When I thought back on it, I think running her a mile and an eighth off the bench took a little of the starch out of her,” McGaughey said Friday between flights to Lexington, Ky., for Keeneland’s opening day. “Her races after that, she ran good, but she never finished the way I thought she should. That was the reason we stopped on her and turned her out. I hope this would be a good spot to start her back and move on from there and see what happens.”

Following her victory in the Top Flight, Carrumba finished second and third behind Cavorting in the Grade 2 Ruffian and Grade 1 Ogden Phipps. In the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga, Carrumba had things her own way on the front end but ended up a distant second behind Curalina.

“After that, I felt something’s not right here; that’s why I decided to give her time and bring her back in this race on Sunday instead of the Top Flight last week,” said McGaughey, who trains Carrumba for the Phipps Stable.

Carrumba figures to be forwardly placed under John Velazquez in the Distaff. Clipthecouponannie, an undefeated New York-bred filly trained by Todd Pletcher, looks like the other potential speed in the race.

Highway Star, 2 for 2 over Aqueduct’s main track; Indulgent, a winner of three straight races; Tale for Ruby; and Kelsocait complete the field. The Distaff goes as race 5 on a ninerace program that begins at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Carrumba, by Bernardini Last 3 Beyers: 90-97-90

◗ Competes at seven furlongs for the first time since her second career start two years ago, when she finished second.

◗ Spent a good part of the winter at Niall Brennan’s farm in Florida, where she breezed five times before moving to McGaughey’s barn at Gulfstream, where she had five more breezes.

Indulgent, by Bernardini Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-80

◗ Half-sister to Frosted has reeled off three consecutive victories and now moves up into stakes company. Would benefit if someone applies pressure to Carrumba early on.

Highway Star, by Girolamo Last 3 Beyers: 69-85-83

◗ Scored a 7-1 victory in last fall’s Grade 3 Go for Wand, beating High Ridge Road, who came back to win the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie.