Bond Racing Stable's Giacosa will seek a second straight stakes triumph when facing eight other New York-bred fillies and mares in Friday's $200,000 Ticonderoga going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Originally scheduled as part of Empire Showcase Day on October 30, the Ticonderoga, as well as its male counterpart race, the $200,000 Mohawk, were rescheduled due to significant rainfall from a coastal storm that impacted the Nassau County area.
Giacosa, trained by Jimmy Bond, enters the Ticonderoga off her first stakes victory in the Yaddo Handicap on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The dark bay Tizway filly was ninth at the second point of call and made a devastating late move to win by three-quarters of a length. Giacosa displayed different tactics in her previous effort in an allowance optional claimer in July at Saratoga, when stalking the pace from second down the backstretch to secure a one-length victory over next-out winner Light in the Sky.
“She's an improving filly and hopefully we have good enough turf to run over this time around,” said Bond. “She made plenty of steps forward at Saratoga this summer. She's a mentally and physically stronger horse this year. Her daddy Tizway didn't really get going until he was five, so maybe she's a late bloomer like he was.”
Bond said training in company with stablemate Rinaldi, who is expected to be entered in Saturday's rescheduled $200,000 Mohawk, has been beneficial.
“She works with Rinaldi and he's not an easy horse to work with,” Bond said. “It seems to be making her a far better horse.”
Kendrick Carmouche will ride Giacosa from post 8.
Trainer Christophe Clement sends out Classic Lady, who seeks her second stakes coup. Owned by Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso and bred by Seth Gregory and Robert Barney, the daughter of Jimmy Creed captured last year's Dayatthespa at Saratoga ahead of the Yaddo last September. She emerged off the bench when fourth against open company in an allowance optional claimer Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., in July ahead of a third in the Yaddo.
Breaking from post 1, Classic Lady will be ridden by Paco Lopez.
Also from the Clement barn is Merrylegs Farm homebred Timeless Journey, who seeks her first triumph since an allowance optional claiming score last December at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old daughter of Verrazano arrives of a third-place finish in a seven furlong state-bred allowance optional claimer on September 26 at Belmont.
Timeless Journey will be piloted by Eric Cancel from post 3.
Completing the field are Silky Blue [post 2, Manny Franco], Cara's Dreamer [post 5, Dylan Davis], Barkin [post 6, Jose Lezcano], Dancingwthdaffodls [post 7, Hector Diaz, Jr.], and Two Cent Tootsie [post 9, Ruben Silvera]. Ice Princess has been entered for the main track only.
The Ticonderoga is carded as Race 8 on Friday's 10-race card, which also features the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going a one-turn mile on the main track, the $100,000 Atlantic Beach for juveniles going six furlongs on the turf, and the $100,000 Awad for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles over the turf. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
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