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85-Year-Old Bob Dunham Fishing For Another Stakes Score With Byhubbyhellomoney

Trainer Bob Dunham, who turns 85-years-old on Tuesday, will try to keep the celebration rolling when he saddles Jupiter Stable's Byhubbyhellomoney in Thursday's $100,000 Bay Ridge at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Byhubbyhellomoney worked an easy five-eighths over the Belmont Park dirt training track on Dec. 23, in preparation for the nine-furlong test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up.

“I enjoy it. Training horses is a passion. I was there on Christmas Day,” Dunham said.

Earlier this summer, Byhubbyhellomoney won the Fleet Indian at Saratoga Race Course. Dunham said he loves his summers at the Spa which allow him to dabble in his favorite pastime – fly fishing.

“Training horses is like fly fishing – it gets into your blood,” said Dunham, with a laugh. “I love going up to Vermont. It's only 55 miles from Saratoga and you can smell the change in the air, it's so much clearer and so fresh. There's a beautiful river I like there that goes from Manchester all the way down to New York to the Hudson called the Battenkill.”

The veteran conditioner, who trained 4-year-old filly Chou Croute to Champion Sprinter honors in 1972, has met a lot of interesting people through his career, both on and off the track – including broadcaster Charles Osgood and the late actor Steve McQueen.

“I was in the water fishing one morning – maybe seven years ago – at 6:30 in Arlington, Vermont and this guy gets in about 40 minutes later,” Dunham recalled. “As the morning moves along we end up closer together and he hollers at me, 'catch anything?'”

While Dunham had caught a couple, the friendly fisherman upstream had been shut out. When the fishing was done, the two strangers sat down for a cup of coffee and traded tall stories as 'Bob' and 'Charlie.'

“He had on these sunglasses that wrapped around, a Tilley hat and waders,” Dunham said.

Before he left, Dunham asked the man for his surname and he replied, 'Osgood' – as in Charles Osgood, longtime host of the CBS News Sunday Morning and The Osgood File.

“I told him I enjoyed his show on Sunday mornings. He's really a nice guy,” Dunham said. “Later, I invited him to the races at Belmont and he showed up for a nice lunch and we talked about the horses and the radio.”

Dunham also recalled shipping a small string of horses to Santa Anita nearing the tail end of 1972, including Chou Croute, who won the Las Flores Handicap on Dec. 28 and came back Jan. 16, 1973 to win the Grade 2 Santa Monica Handicap.

Dunham said he enjoyed spending time at Santa Anita with the late Willard Proctor, father of conditioner Tom Proctor.

“He was a good friend of mine and he liked to go out for a drink. He knew a lot of actors out there,” Dunham said.

On one occasion, Proctor introduced Dunham to racing fan and acting legend Steve McQueen, who was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor in 1967 for his portrayal of Jake Holman in The Sand Pebbles.

After a few drinks, McQueen asked Dunham if he had any horses entered that he liked.

“I had a filly in that I loved. She'd had a couple races at Fair Grounds,” Dunham said. “We'd sprinted her a couple times and she was a route filly. She was entered going a mile and a sixteenth and I didn't think she could get beat, but I didn't tell Steve McQueen that. I said, 'I think she's got a chance.'”

Sure enough, the filly came through at a price.

“She won and McQueen came up and gave me a hug. I'm not sure how much money he bet,” Dunham said, with a laugh.

McQueen, known as a 'The King of Cool', kept in contact with Dunham through the years.

“He took us out to dinner several times and we exchanged numbers. Every time I had a horse in he called me,” Dunham said.

And while Byhubbyhellomoney, listed at 6-1 on the morning line, may be a little cool on the board Thursday, Dunham said he expects a big effort.

“She'll do good, but I don't know that she'll win,” Dunham said. “But every little bit helps.”

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Rob Atras Celebrates ‘Breakthrough Year’ With Maracuja In 2021

Just two live race days remain in 2021 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit. The NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of New York-based racing personalities to get their reflections on a memorable year.

Canadian-born trainer Rob Atras – with the support of his wife and assistant Brittney -went out on his own in 2019 following a tenure working as an assistant for Robertino Diodoro.

The 36-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba has steadily improved his stock over the course of three seasons, enjoying his best year yet in 2021 [336-70-51-51, $3,942,669] by securing his first graded stakes victory with American Power in the Grade 3 Toboggan in January at the Big A, which was followed in March by Chateau's score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap. In July, Atras secured his first Grade 1 victory with Maracuja in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course.

How would you describe your 2021 campaign?

Atras: “It's been a breakthrough year in a sense. We upgraded our stock quite a bit and that showed in the results. We won a couple of graded stakes races earlier in the year and capped it off with a Grade 1 win with Maracuja. We have a bigger barn, but we have a lot of quality in our barn as well. Last year we were in the high 30s and now we have close to 50 horses in the barn.”

Every trainer's business model is different – describe yours.

Atras: “We go for quality over quantity and we try to be competitive every time we enter. If a horse can win a race, they're good at any level in my book. We have some good 2-year-olds this year and we've had some owners send us homebreds as well as some bought from the sales – so, we have an all-around stable.

“There's so many things that go into the success. We have really good exercise riders, grooms and hotwalkers in the barn. Our foreman, Rafael Lechuga, has been with us since Day One. It's fun to win any race, just to have everyone smile, celebrate and be happy together. They put a lot of pride into their work.”

What was your favorite win this year?

Atras: “We had a lot of winners and a lot of memorable wins this year. But it's tough to not say Maracuja in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The whole race was fun. She broke well and then I got to wondering if they were going a little quick. Then seeing her back up [down the backstretch] I was wondering, 'What's going on here, are we out of horse.' But then she starts picking up steam again. In that moment, I was thinking she could at least hit the board, so I felt relieved she wasn't stopping. Down the stretch, I was just thrilled to be in the race, and then for her to get her nose down and beat a filly like Malathaat is just out of this world.

“It was just a real heads up ride by Ricardo Santana, Jr. In a Grade 1 – under that much pressure – to make the decision to drop back like that was pretty impressive.”

What was it like being featured on America's Day At The Races?

Atras: “That was neat. It's a great program and it was cool to be featured on there. My mom and dad watch it, they don't miss a race. We came into the CCA Oaks as underdogs. We were a little disappointed that we couldn't replicate that in her next race in the Alabama, but that's alright.”

As someone who maintains a heavy division in New York all year long, what are the benefits of the New York racing and breeding program.

Atras: “If I had some land, I wish I could have a few mares out of New York. They run for great money and have great incentives for the breeders and owners. I think it's a great program. The quality is there, too. You can see it in the races with deeper fields and this year you get a 3-year-old horse like Americanrevolution to win a Grade 1 [Cigar Mile] against older horses. There's a lot of nice New York-breds here, for sure.”

What are your goals for 2022?

Atras: “Keep winning! We had a great year this year and I'd love to carry that into next year and build on it. I'm also sending a small string to Oaklawn for the winter. Maracuja will be there and hopefully her first start or two will be down there before she comes back to New York. We'll bring a few local horses to run in some of the claiming races and maybe pick up some horses to bring back up to New York in the spring.”

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Reylu Gutierrez Scores With Hat Trick Of Stakes Mounts On Monday At Fair Grounds

We could Chattalot about the Lovely Ride jockey Reylu Gutierrez has been on in 2021, but during the post-Christmas stakes extravaganza at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the 24-year-old native of Rochester, New York, conjured up a little Excess Magic in the Big Easy.

Gutierrez won with seven of his 17 mounts the past two days at Fair Grounds, five of them stakes. His winning mounts returned a total of $209.20 for a $12.30 return on investment. On Sunday he guided Gentle Soul ($35.00), Chess Chief ($22.20) and Halo Again ($30.80) to the Fair Grounds' winner's circle, and on Monday he followed up with victories aboard Hooperdrivesthboat ($83.80), Excess Magic ($6.60), Lovely Ride ($20.80) and Chattalot ($10.00).

“Feels great,” Gutierrez said after winning the final stakes of the day aboard Chattalot. “It's a credit to (jockey agent) Jose Santos, Jr. No matter where he's put me, we've been successful. We are calling Fair Grounds home, and we are doing very well. He does his due diligence. He does an excellent job with all of his riders. He puts me on these horses, and it's for everybody, so I'm just thankful for Jose.”

For the year, Gutierrez has won 132 races while banking $4.8 million, both career highs, while taking on new racetracks and challenges seemingly every month. Entering Thursday's card, he's sits second in the Fair Grounds jockey standings with 17 wins from just 73 mounts (23%), three behind meet leader Colby Hernandez.

Two of Gutierrez's Monday stakes scores came for trainer Bret Calhoun, whom he also credits for helping to jump start his career.

“When I ride for the Calhoun train it is really special,” Gutierrez said. “He's one of the reasons I am here today.”

Excess Magic Gets the Bacon in Woodchopper

In the $75,000 Woodchopper, Gutierrez placed the William T. Reed homebred Excess Magic (2.30-1 favorite) in the perfect pressing position on the outside of the pacesetting 18.10-1 longshot Rightandjust through early fractions of 24.43 and 49.76. He put that rival away off the turn for home and then held safe of close second choice Point Me By (2.50-1) to win by 1 ½ lengths in a final time of 1:38.08 for the mile on turf.

“His other horse (Who Took the Money) was the one I was most afraid of, so I guess he did me a favor by scratching him from the race,” Gutierrez said. “Both tracks (turf and dirt) are playing the way I like to ride. He (Excess Magic) was coming from a sprint to a route so I let him be a horse, get out there, and get in good position. On the backside I could feel everyone on top of us, so I could tell we were going pretty slow. He was ready to go and when I turned for home, I said 'let's go get some bacon'. He was hungry. I was hungry. Calhoun does a great job with his horses.”

The Woodchopper was the fourth win overall and first in a stake for Excess Magic (8-4-2-1), and it boosted his career bankroll to $164,171.

“He's been a pretty consistent horse for us,” Calhoun said. He had a little injury last year and we had to back off. Being able to run in a sprint prepping for this (win on Nov. 26), it worked out great. The mile is ideal for him. He's got tremendous turn of foot. Early on I was thinking we were a little (too) close (to the front), but that why I pay Reylu to ride him. He was right. The fractions were pretty slow and he had him right where he needed to be.”

Lovely Ride Works Out a Trip in Pago Hop

First career turf start is a stakes winning one for daughter of Candy Ride

Already a stakes winner on dirt, Allied Racing Stables Lovely Ride proved her versatility by winning her first ever start on turf, taking the $75,000 Pago Hop in what was a hard-fought battle down to the wire. It was the second stakes victory on the card for the team of trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

Away alertly from an outside post, Lovely Ride sat fourth while in the clear, two-wide down the backstretch while chasing moderate early fractions of 24.17 and 49.30 set by the longshot (25.60-1) Touch of Class. With the front-runner wandering about, she ducked inside of her mid-stretch, took the lead, and held safe of the resurgent 3.10-1 favorite Amiche and the late closing Princess Theorem (6.90-1) to score by a game ¾ of a length in a final time of 1:38.56 for one mile on turf. Only 3 ¼ lengths separated the top seven finishers.

“I had a delightful trip,” Gutierrez said. “She has enough tactical speed. I was able to break and come over (from the outside post). That was the whole game plan, we wanted to save ground. She took to it well. I have to credit Mr. (Bret) Calhoun and his brain because he has been brainstorming around with a couple of his horses and switching things up and he took the risk (of running on turf) given her pedigree. A lot of trainers don't have the opportunity to do that, but he took his chance. His chess playing is paying off and he is making me look good and his horses look good, so credit to Mr. Calhoun.”

The winner of the Catherine Sophia on August 24 at Parx, Lovely Ride has looked dominant at times on dirt, but she's been somewhat plagued by inconsistency.

“We thought pedigree-wise (by Candy Ride out of a Tiznow mare) she had a big chance to perform well on turf,” Calhoun explained. “Obviously this is the last 3-year old (restricted) race of the year. We were kind of out of options and so we thought we'd take a chance. We really thought she would handle the turf. It looks like she handled it well, and I look forward to her being even better on it next time. She looked like she was a little bit lost on it early on. By the time she figured out where she was going and what she was on, she finished up big and galloped out huge. It is great to have multiple options. We're just going to have to sit back and look at the condition books and see what race suits us best.”

With the win, Lovely Ride bolstered her resume to 9-5-1-1 with earnings of $284,160.

Chattalot Lets His Speed Do the Talking in Sugar Bowl

With three stakes wins the past two days, trainer Steve Asmussen breaks out of his Fair Grounds “slump” in a big way

Entering Sunday's action, trainer Steve Asmussen had zero wins to show from 21 starters to open the 2021-22 racing season at Fair Grounds. On the other side of Monday, he now has four wins with three of them coming in stakes. So much for that “slump”.

On the heels of a Sunday training triple, including stakes wins with Halo Again in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial and Epicenter in the inaugural running of the Gun Runner, Asmussen added a little icing to his holiday cake by winning Monday's Sugar Bowl with the front-running Chattalot for Bloom Racing and David Bersen. It was the third stakes win on the card, and fifth in the last two days, for jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

Away alertly from the rail, Chattalot (4.00-1) maintained his inside position while neck in neck with the 1.60-1 favorite Higher Standard through contested fractions of 22.05 and 45.35. He put that rival away on the turn for home, and the fended off a stretch challenge from Underhill's Tab (5.90-1) to win by a game, half-length in a final time of 1:10.03 for the six furlong on the main track. It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to Blue Kentucky in third. Higher Standards was 5 ½ lengths back in sixth.

“Today I just let him break and get his feet under him,” Gutierrez said. “I saw that no other horses were really getting away from him or going, so I just kind of took it to them. The rail has been good to me this weekend, so why not take it. When I saw (the favorite) Higher Standard just kind of pumping at the half mile pole, I was very confident.”

The winner of the first two starts of his career, the 2-year-old son of Midnight Lute was most recently seen finishing a tired fourth in the Lively Shively Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 27. With the win, he now boasts a record of 5-3-0-1 with earnings of $199,095.

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Girl With a Dream was Filly With the Lead for a Brad Cox Letellier Exacta

Maybe it was more experience, maybe it was the break, maybe it was simply a matter that the most talented 2-year old filly won, but either way, the Brad Cox barn was front and center at Fair Grounds, sending out the Letellier Memorial Stakes $75,000 exacta with Girl With a Dream wiring the field and Com'On Sweet luv running second.

“She broke sharp,” jockey Florent Geroux said of the winner. “I thought she was the best in the field. We didn't know what to expect [in terms of running style]. We know she can be forwardly placed, but last time she came from the back at Churchill. I just felt I had the best horse in the race and she broke sharp so I took it from there. If someone wanted to go faster than me I would have let them go but that's not how the race unfolded, how everything played out.”

In a dirt sprint race where it was unclear how the front end would unfold, jockey Florent Geroux capitalized on a sharp break from his mount. By Practical Joke and owned by Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister, Girl With a Dream was last seen closing inot hot fractions in a first-level allowance on November 13 at Churchill Downs. In the Letellier she set the fractions of 22.49, 46.42 as the .70-1 favorite. 31.90-1 Runnin Happy kept within a length at the first call. The bettor's choice of the two Steve Margolis horses, 4.50-1 Implosion, stalked and chased but never threatened for the lead. The other Margolis, 17.70-1 Mystique Saboteur, got away slow and passed tiring rivals for third. Despite coming away last from the gate, by the second call Marcelino Pedroz Jr. had guided Com' On Sweet Luv through traffic, up within one length, then as close as the leader's throatlatch. As they both got into their fillies, it was Girl With a Dream who proved best, synching the deal late in 1:10.84 for six furlongs.

“When [Come On' Sweet Luv] came close to me at the eighth pole it seemed like she had plenty left,” Geroux said. “But we were able to fight her off in the last eighth of the mile.”

All three rides for Com' On Sweet Luv have come under Marcelion Pedroza, Jr. The second place filly by Jimmy Creed broke her maiden out front last out at Fair Grounds on November 27, finishing strong after setting slow fractions.

“She got left at the gate a little bit,” Pedroza said. “She's not the type of filly to break sharp in the first jump. By the third jump she is right up in the race. I don't think it cost me the race. The other filly was better. We just got beat. On top of the stretch I felt like I had a shot. I grabbed a hold but he did too, so I was like let's see who is the better filly right here. He had more horse than me, that's it.”

The two-year old question du jour as we turn the calendar year: what's next for the winner and will she stretch out?

“Maybe, but if so, probably still around one turn,” Brad Cox said. “I wouldn't get super super crazy. Comparing her with other horses in our barn I am thinking she might be one to keep around one turn for the time being. She's had five runs now at 2 so we'll take a deep breath, regroup with her. It takes a little pressure off you going forward, now being a stakes winner.”

With the win, Girl with a Dream is 5-3-1-0 earning $170,720 in her brief and promising career.

Add Dirt to The Top of the List: Versatile Audrey's Time Keeps Getting Better

Lothenbach Stables' patient approach with Audrey's Time paid off on Monday, as the soon to be 5-year-old mare won the $75,000 “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Making her 16th start over three racing campaigns, the daughter of Uncle Mo has raced 8 times with one win on turf, 1 win in her lone synth try, and in her 7th dirt start, she gets the trophy for trainer Neil Pessin and regular rider Corey Lanerie.

“She was just doing okay on the turf,” Pessin said. “I knew she had always worked well [on dirt], and we'd run her on the dirt before, but she was just maturing with every time out. I think that helped as much as anything, the time off we gave her and bringing her back slow.”

Run at 1 mile 70 yards, there was nothing slow about the front end. Ignacio Correas' .90-1 favorite Cheetara set fast opening fractions of 23.74 and 47.07–the quickening through the second call was largely due to being aggressively chased by 7.30-1 Powder River, who vied for the lead through the turn. Cheetera has proven not to like company and Powder River's jockey Adam Beschizza seemed to know it. The early leader faded and as Powder Room passed her on the inside, Audrey's Time made her winning move on the outside and didn't stop edging away to the wire.

“My horse got off a little slow,” Corey Lanerie said. “The leader was going easy by herself, but I kept my filly in the clear and she pulled up to her on the turn. From that point on I knew I had something left in the tank. I called on her and she took it from there.”

Make it $268,226 in the bank and a career record of 16-4-1-3 for Audrey's Time as connections contemplate the next move.

“I don't know if we belong with the ones we ran against last time [Envoutante and Bonny South in the Falls City (G2)],” Pessin said. “I don't think we are quite there yet. We might look at Sam Houston. I don't know what they're going to have in the older filly division as far as veteran mares being ready to run.”

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Effinex Filly Byhubbyhellomoney Stretches Out In Thursday’s Bay Ridge Stakes

Jupiter Stable's Byhubbyhellomoney will look to provide trainer Bob Dunham a belated birthday gift in Thursday's seventh renewal of the $100,000 Bay Ridge, a nine-furlong test for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Dunham, who celebrates his 85th birthday on Tuesday, said the sophomore daughter of Effinex has trained well out of her distant runner-up effort to Bank Sting in the seven-furlong NYSSS Staten Island on Dec. 5 at the Big A.

“I was a little disappointed with that race. I didn't like the way she finished up,” Dunham said. “She came out of it fine. She ate well and was training well, but I thought she had a chance. I wasn't sure she could beat that filly, but I thought she'd be closer.

“She's done well since,” Dunham added, regarding an easy breeze in 1:03.11 December 23 over the Belmont dirt training track. “I haven't gone fast with her because she's fit. She went five-eighths in 1:03 over a slow track. She trains well.”

Byhubbyhellomoney was claimed for $40,000 out of a second-out graduation in June sprinting six furlongs over turf against fellow state-breds at Belmont Park.

She made her next three starts in restricted company at Saratoga Race Course, finishing a close third in an off-the-turf allowance sprint against older horses in July ahead of completing the trifecta in the NYSSS Statue of Liberty for sophomore fillies on Aug. 4 at one mile over the inner turf.

“I actually think she's better on turf. The day she broke her maiden on the turf, she was so impressive,” Dunham said. “She just ran good on the dirt so we kept her on the dirt, but I want to try her again on turf this coming year.”

Dunham entered Byhubbyhellomoney in the Fleet Indian, a nine-furlong route against fellow state-bred sophomore fillies over the Spa main track on Aug. 27, and the $30,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase responded with a rallying neck score over multiple graded stakes placed Make Mischief.

Dunham said pedigree may have played a part in the Fleet Indian effort as her sire, the $3.3 million earner Effinex, excelled at a route of ground.

“I was a little surprised but she is bred to go a route by Effinex. I thought she had a chance and she was training better at Saratoga than she was anywhere,” Dunham said. “She was really sharp at Saratoga. That's the only difference I see in her now is she used to play a lot coming off the track at Saratoga, but she's settled down.”

The versatile Byhubbyhellomoney returned to sprinting in October over Big Sandy, closing to finish second in a six-furlong state-bred optional claiming event and three weeks later was off-the-board at the same venue against the victorious Sharp Starr in the 1 1/16-mile Empire Distaff for state-bred sophomore fillies which was contested over a sloppy and sealed main track.

Dunham said he is hopeful for a big effort from Byhubbyhellomoney in her final start before a freshening.

“I'm running a sound horse. She'll run well but I don't know if she'll win,” Dunham said. “I think we'll give her a break after this and plan for the races in the spring.”

Bred in the Empire State by Anderson Boulton Thoroughbreds, the New York-sired bay out of the El Prado mare Shocking Behavior will exit the inside post under Eric Cancel.

Sharp Starr, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, will look to make amends after a distant fourth last out when attempting to defend her title in in the one-mile G3 Go for Wand Handicap on December 4 at the Big A.

Trained by Horacio DePaz, the Barry Schwartz homebred boasts a record of 15-4-3-3 and will be attempting her first win at the nine-furlong distance in her fourth attempt. She has breezed twice out of her Go for Wand effort, including an easy half-mile in 51.55 seconds on Dec. 24 over the Belmont dirt training track.

“She's doing really well. She came out of the race in good order. Her appetite has been good and her breezes have been good,” DePaz said. “We had an easier breeze the other day a week out from the Bay Ridge. We don't want to put a lot of speed into her. She's fit and ready to go.”

Sharp Starr entered the Go for Wand from a visually impressive 3 1/4-length last-to-first score in the Empire Distaff at Belmont over returning rival Ice Princess.

DePaz, who had also considered entering Sharp Starr in the seven-furlong La Verdad slated for Sunday at the Big A, said the filly showed determination at nine furlongs last year at Saratoga when second in a state-bred allowance ahead of a third in the Fleet Indian.

“I thought seven furlongs would be too short for her and this race is a smaller field,” DePaz said. “She ran well going a mile and a sixteenth at Belmont coming from off the pace and in her two races at Saratoga going nine furlongs she was always closing and finishing up well.”

Sharp Starr has demonstrated an affinity for Aqueduct with a record of 7-2-2-2, including a romping 15 3/4-length state-bred allowance win in November 2020 that registered a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jose Ortiz, aboard for three of Sharp Starr's four career wins, retains the mount from post 3.

“He knows the filly and rode her going long at Saratoga. He's very familiar with her,” DePaz said.

DePaz will also saddle Amity Island, a sophomore daughter of Brody's Cause owned by Michael Dubb, Take a Shot Stables and Liberty House Racing.

Amity Island was claimed for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort in an open one-turn mile on Oct. 2 at Belmont. Following an even fourth in November in a state-bred one-turn mile over Big Sandy, Amity Island returned Dec. 10 at the Big A with blinkers on for the first time to post a head score at the same level with a last-to-first effort.

“She stepped up. Thar race came back to her last time, but she put a good effort in. I was really happy with how she adjusted to blinkers,” DePaz said. “Hopefully, second time out with the blinkers she'll be much more focused. It's a good spot for her and her running style suits the distance.”

Out of the A. P Jet mare Anjorie, Amity Island is a half-sister to stakes winner Fierce Lady. Initially campaigned by Chad Brown, she was claimed for $25,000 out of a third-out graduation traveling a one-turn mile over a muddy main track at the Big A.

DePaz said he is hopeful Amity Island will continue to improve with racing.

“She's a very honest filly and very competitive in the races she ran before we claimed her,” DePaz said. “We were looking at the winter meet when we claimed her and hoping she could come up and get into allowance company and improve as she matures.”

Bred by Sugar Maple Farm, Amity Island will emerge from post 4 under Manny Franco.

Ice Princess, trained and co-owned by Danny Gargan with Flying P Stable and R. A. Hill Stable, will look to turn the tables on Sharp Starr when stretching back out to two turns.

The 4-year-old graded stakes placed Palace Malice grey entered the Empire Distaff from a trio of nine-furlong efforts, including an open allowance win in August over a sloppy and sealed surface at the Spa and a closing second in the John Hettinger against fellow state-breds over the Belmont turf on Oct. 1.

Bred in New York by Mina Equivest, Ice Princess sports a perfect in-the-money record of 5-2-3-0 at the Big A, including a win in the one-mile Maddie May in February 2020 and a runner-up effort in the nine-furlong G3 Comely in November 2020.

Jose Lezcano will pilot Ice Princess for the first time from the outermost post 5.

Rounding out the field is stakes winner Maiden Beauty, who enters from a gate-to-wire optional claiming win against open company on Dec. 19 at the Big A. Trained by Robert Falcone, Jr., Maiden Beauty will exit post 2 under three-time Bay Ridge winner Kendrick Carmouche.

The Bay Ridge is slated as Race 7 on Thursday's eight-race card, which will also offers a $49K carryover in the $1 Pick 6 which begins in Race 3. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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