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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