Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Aqueduct Distaff Handicap is on tap for this Saturday, April 13 from Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The race will feature fillies and mares three years old and upward that are willing to dash six furlongs on Aqueduct's dirt track for a purse of $200,000.

The Distaff Handicap has attracted a field of seven females to go in race 8 on Aqueduct's Saturday card. Post time is 4:22 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all seven combatants for the final graded stakes of the 2012-13 Aqueduct Racetrack meet.

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2013 Distaff Handicap Race Favorites

Cluster of Stars - has four career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen and four impressive wins - all at six furlongs, all at Aqueduct's inner track. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score by 9 1/4 lengths March 14 after a win in the minor Correction Stakes over eight time stakes winner Nicole H February 2 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in January.

Spectacular Sky - had a three race win streak in the summer at Calder including the minor Barb`s Dancer Stakes and the Whippleton Stakes and looked very good before a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs November 3. She bounced back with a win in the minor Manatee Stakes by a head at Tampa Bay Downs February 9 and was second last time out in the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes March 17 at Gulfstream. She has won four of her last six starts and outside of the Chilukki has been competitive in every race the last eight months.

Distaff Handicap 2013 | Remaining Field Entries

Nakano - graded stakes placed and stakes winner Nakano had success in 2012 placing in eight straight with two wins including the minor Connie Ann Stakes at Calder September 3, one second and five third place finishes. She recorded a good third in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie February 10 but followed that with a somewhat disappointing fourth last time out in the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream April 17. Nakano has not finished worse that fourth since August 2011 (11 starts) but has finished just out of the money in two of her three starts in 2013.

Villanesca - has won three of six starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin - two of her last three. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Aqueduct March 1 after a fourth in a Ladies Handicap January 1 and another Allowance Optional Claiming score December 5. Saturday represents a huge step up in competition for Villanesca.

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Los Ojitos - will make her graded stakes debut Saturday for trainer Nick Canani having placed in her last five starts - a second last time out in the minor Langhorne Stakes at Parx March 26 followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score at aqueduct January 17. Prior to that was a pair of thirds in minor stakes action to close out her 2012 campaign. Los Ojitos has three wins (all at 6 or 6 1/2 furlongs), two seconds and three third place finishes in 10 career starts.

Miss d'Oro - has six career starts for trainer Jason Servis with four wins and two third place finishes. he best result came in June of 2012 - a win in the minor Wonders Delight Stakes at Penn National. She has won her last two starts at Parx this year and will be making her graded stakes debut Saturday

Hearts Of Red - has 11 career starts with three wins, a second and two third place finishes. She hasn't raced since December 8 - a disappointing sixth in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream. Before that was an OK second in the minor Dream Supreme Stakes in October and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Saratoga August 29.


2013 Distaff Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Aqueduct Racetrack's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:20 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Hearts of Red C. Velasquez R. Nicks
20-1
2 Spectacular Sky L. Saez M. Wolfson
5-2
3 Nakano A. Solis M. Wolfson
6-1
4 Cluster of Stars J. Alvarado S. Asmussen
1-1
5 Los Ojitos R. Maragh N. Canani
12-1
6 Miss d'Oro J. Lezcano J. Servis
12-1
7 Villanesca I. Ortiz, Jr. K. McLaughlin
8-1