Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap goes this Friday, November 23 from Aqueduct Race Track in the great state of New York. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be featured as they go one mile on Aqueduct`s main track for their portion of the $200,000 purse.
A small field of five has been confirmed for the Go for Wand. It is race 9 on Aqueduct`s Friday card with a post time of 3:49 PM. Let`s take a look into the past performances of all five entries and what brought them to this Friday Grade 2 event.
Fantasy of Flight - Richard Dutrow filly is the morning line favorite and is coming off a very nice 9 3/4 length win in an Optional Claiming race last time out after a less-than-impressive ninth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs way back in May. She has three wins, three seconds and a third place finish in eight career starts including a decent second in the Grade 3 Dogwood last June at Churchill Downs and appears in fine form after her decisive romp last time out.
Willet - has won four of her last six starts and has placed in all seven career starts but will be making her graded stakes debut on Friday. Willet is coming off a very impressive 9 1/4 length win in the Iroquois Stakes at Belmont Park last time out and has won her last two starts on this track. The Go For Wand is a huge step up in competition but the James Iselin trained filly appears up to the task and is the morning line second choice.
R Gypsy Gold - Todd Pletcher trained filly has won three of her last seven starts including the Endear Stakes at Belmont on July 4 and the Real Prize Stakes in October. She finished a decent third behind the likes of Brushed by a Star in the Molly Pitcher July 29 but was sixth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign August 26 and fifth last time out as favorite in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park October 27. R Gypsy Gold has four wins, two seconds and four fourth place finishes in 15 career starts and enters this weekend in so-so form.
Nefertini - has been good in 2012 winning three of six starts including the Monmouth Beach Stakes on May 27. Her other wins this year were Allowance Optional Claiming races. Last time out was a decent third in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap to follow a fourth in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher in her first really competitive race. The Empire Maker filly has made one appearance at Aqueduct, defeating Fantasy of Flight by a half-length in an optional claimer over the inner track in March.
Hard Life - Another Richard Dutrow filly will be making her stakes debut Friday after just three wins in 14 career starts. Last time out was a disappointing sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park after a win in a similar race on that same track.
