Nicole H goes for Interborough three-peat; Arena Elvira tops Ladies

Nicole H is unbeaten over Aqueduct’s inner track (Melissa Wirth/Horsephotos.com)

Nicole H looks to make history on New Year’s Day at Aqueduct,
where she will attempt to become the first-ever three-time winner of the $75,000
Interborough Stakes.

The Michael Hushion mare is a perfect four-for-four
over the inner track, all in six-furlong stakes, and she enters in sparkling
form. A close second to champion Musical Romance in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney
Handicap over the summer, Nicole H has captured the October 13 Endine at
Delaware and the November 21 Daylily at Penn National in her last pair.

“I don’t think Nicole H has lost a step at all,” Hushion of the daughter of
Mr. Greeley. “She’s got sturdy legs and the mind to go with it. Her last two
races, she was just cruising.”

Since 1921, only five other horses have won back-to-back runnings of the
Interborough, including champions Ta Wee (1969-70) and Affectionately (1963-64).

Nicole H, the 123-pound highweight, has been installed as the 4-5 morning-line
favorite in her historic quest for a three-peat.

Seven opponents stand in Nicole H’s way, including fellow Aqueduct aficionado Singlet, who comes off a victory in the December 1 Garland of Roses on the main
oval; Mildly Offensive, runner-up in the November 15 Pentelis over
6 1/2 furlongs last out; and Ms. Cruisen’, a front-running winner
of the November 20 Cornucopia at Parx.

Singlet is poised for a big effort, according to trainer Tony Dutrow.

“She did so well last winter at Aqueduct we left her up there after the
Garland of Roses,” Dutrow said. “She’s doing tremendous, and I couldn’t be
happier with her. She’s got a steep hill to climb in that she’ll be facing older
horses for the first time, so she’s got a lot to prove. But she is at the top of
her game and she is ready to run her very best race.”

Arena Elvira hopes to regain her old luster (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

The Bill Mott-trained Arena Elvira has been disappointing in her last three.
After finishing third, beaten 11 lengths, in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap in
April at Hawthorne, Arena Elvira went to the sidelines for six months. She was
sixth in her return, the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm in October at Belmont, and most
recently checked in fourth as the defending champion in the Grade 2 Falls
City Handicap on Thanksgiving Day.

“In that first race back off the long layoff, I imagine she needed it,”
assistant trainer Neil Poznansky said of the Ladies’ 7-5 morning-line favorite.
“Judging off the way she has been training going into this one, I’m looking
forward to a big effort. I get on her myself and I’ve been getting on her for a
long time, and she’s as good as I’ve ever seen her. I’d be surprised if she
doesn’t run well.”

R Gypsy Gold has likewise failed to factor
over the second half of the season, and the Todd Pletcher trainee exits an even
fourth in the Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap here on November 23.

The 1 1/8-mile
distance is likely to favor Arena Elvira, however, even though she concedes
weight all around as the 120-pound highweight.