NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Trainer Ray Handal will hope to see impressive maiden winner Promiseher America relish a stretch-out to nine furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Gazelle, which awards 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks to the top-five finishers, is one of four graded events slated for Saturday’s card, which co-features the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets; the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a 100-40-30-20-10 qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore.
Owned by Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom F. McCrocklin, the daughter of American Pharoah was last seen graduating at third asking in a one-turn mile maiden special weight on February 19 over the local going, rallying from fourth-of-5 to post a dominant 6 1/4-length score under Dylan Davis. The effort was awarded a 73 Beyer Speed Figure and came on the heels of a runner-up finish sprinting seven furlongs on January 15.
“We’re taking on some deep waters but she breezed great, so all systems go. We’ll take a shot and I think she’ll do really well with the stretch-out,” said Handal. “I think the longer the better for her. You never know until you put them in there, but she certainly has the build and pedigree for it.”
Promiseher America posted her final work for the Gazelle on Saturday, breezing a half-mile in 50.85 seconds over the Belmont Park training track in company with Valentine Racing’s Admire My Crown.
“I didn’t want to do too much and wanted to keep her to task,” said Handal. “We wanted an endurance type of breeze and she galloped out six [furlongs] in about 1:16. She really conducts herself in a professional manner, and she’s the same way in the mornings. She does whatever you need her to do and she’s very push-button. She’s ready.”
Handal’s other stakes hopeful this week is Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing’s New York-bred Funny How, who streaks into Friday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap with five consecutive victories dating to a third-out graduation against open company in September at Belmont at the Big A.
A 4-year-old daughter of Overanalyze, Funny How’s latest victory was a 4 1/4-length triumph in the state-bred Broadway for the first stakes score of her career. All five of Funny How’s victories have come over the Aqueduct main track at distances from six to seven furlongs. She finished on the board in her two other starts when third in a pair of state-bred maiden special weights at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course.
Funny How, bred by Hibiscus Stables, turned in her final work on Friday, covering a half-mile in 49 seconds flat with jockey Katie Davis in the irons.
“Every work has been awesome, and this one was a little quicker than I wanted it,” Handal said, with a laugh. “She galloped out really nicely and we were looking for 49.50, but I don’t think we can get her to go any slower. She was almost in a canter. When they do it like that, it’s OK to go a little quick. Good horses have a higher cruising speed, and she’s a good example of that.”
