Long Island attracts nine
Nine distaffers, including one for the main track only, have
been entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Long Island H. (G2) at
Aqueduct. The co-117 pound highweights for 1 1/2 miles on the
grass are Grade 3 winners SAVEDBYTHELIGHT (Saint Ballado) and
ARVADA (GB) (Hernando [Fr]).
Savedbythelight, who is looking for her first stakes win of 2004,
has been knocking on the door with close top three finishes in
her last two starts for trainer Richard Violette Jr. She’ll be
ridden by Jerry Bailey. John Velazquez has the mount on the Bobby
Frankel-conditioned Arvada, who captured the second division of the Glens Falls H. (G3)
in her most recent outing.
Three Europeans will make their first U.S. start in the Long
Island. ELEUSIS (Diesis [GB]) enters off four straight wins in
France, including the Prix Joubert in her last outing. The
sophomore filly will run coupled with NOBLE STELLA (Ger) (Monsun),
a Group 3-placed Italian invader. BRIVIESCA (GB) (Peintre Celebre),
a French stakes winner in her last start, completes the European
trio.
LITERACY (Diesis [GB]), who exits a third in the Dowager S. at
Keeneland, will lead the post parade and carry 114 pounds,
including Edgar Prado. To her outside in the starting gate are
PRIMETIMEVALENTINE (Affirmed), Javier Castellano, 114; BELLES
LETTRES (Sky Classic), Jose Espinoza, 111; Eleusis, Jose Santos,
115; Savedbythelight; Briviesca, Jorge Chavez, 111; Arvada; and
Noble Stella, Cornelio Velasquez, 112.
BOUNDING CHARM (Boundary) is listed for the main track only and will have to
tote 119 pounds if she runs.