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Hot Fudge brings five-race win streak to G3 Distaff

by Christian Abdo

KEM Stables’ multiple stakes-winner Hot Fudge rides a five-race win streak into her second graded stakes try in Saturday’s 70th running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Distaff, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Distaff, slated as race 6, is one of five stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card which is headlined by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in Race 10. Bolstering the Wood Memorial Day card is the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets in Race 4; the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle in Race 8; and the Listed $150,000 Bay Shore in Race 9. First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

Trainer Linda Rice, who captured last year’s Distaff with Mommasgottarun in addition to past success with Holiday Disguise [2018] and La Verdad [2014-2015], will send out two talented Kentucky-bred mares in Hot Fudge and Ain’t Broke.

Hot Fudge [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche, 120 pounds] rallied from five lengths off the pace to get her nose down in the final jumps of the six-furlong Correction last out on March 9 at the Big A. The 5-year-old Liam’s Map dark bay entered the Correction off a stalking score in the seven-furlong Interborough on January 27.

“Seven-eighths might be better for her than six,” said Rice, who led all trainers with 23 wins at the recently concluded Aqueduct winter meet. “She doesn’t have to rush as much and she’s got tactical speed. I think she’ll be closer this time.”

Hot Fudge, who also won the six-furlong Garland of Roses and a one-mile optional claimer here in December, is 7-for-9 since returning from an over one-year respite last January. Prior to the layoff, she placed in the 2021 Stewart Manor one start after finishing seventh in that year’s Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park.

Out of the winning Into Mischief mare Noelle’s Mischief, Hot Fudge was a $235,000 purchase at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She has banked $493,905 through a record of 13-8-1-1.

Ronald Stewart’s Ain’t Broke [post 2, Eric Cancel, 118 pounds] has also been in good form for Rice, winning three local optional-claimers since being haltered for $75,000 out of a win going 1 1/16-miles on September 21 at Churchill Downs.

The 5-year-old Dialed In dark bay enters off a five-length victory in an optional-claimer versus older fillies and mares traveling a one-turn mile here on February 25.

“I think she really likes the one-turn mile, seven-eighths. She has improved since I shortened her up to one turn as a closing sprinter,” said Rice.

Her last effort matched a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure, improving upon a 76 earned the race prior when third in the Interborough.

Out of the Arch mare Voussoir, Ain’t Broke is a full-sister to dual Grade 3-winning millionaire Mr. Wireless and a half-sister to graded stakes placed Ain’t No Elmers. She has banked $344,875 through a ledger of 20-5-4-2. Ain’t Broke is 3-for-4 for Stewart, who took last year’s edition with Mommasgottarun.

Michael Dubb’s Apple Picker [post 1, Sheldon Russell, 124 pounds] closed from last-of-7 to win the seven-furlong Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie last out on February 17 at Laurel Park.

Trained by Brittany Russell, the 4-year-old Connect dark bay improved upon two consecutive closing seconds in Laurel sprints in the Willa On the Move and Safely Kept, in December and November, respectively.

“This is appealing for us because of the seven-eighths. She’s been good there in Maryland and hopefully she can take her show on the road,” said Russell. “She is a very classy mare who seems to be training forward. She seems to be the type that should be capable.”

Apple Picker’s most recent start away from Laurel was a fourth in October’s seven-furlong Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Race Course, which she entered off a 4 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong Weather Vane at Pimlico Race Course.

Out of the Yes It’s True mare Silent Fright, Apple Picker is 12-4-2-0 with $330,783 in earnings. She broke her maiden on debut for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, before off-the-board efforts in graded stakes at Saratoga Race Course prior to the switch to Russell.

Alifyfe Racing’s graded stakes-placed New York-bred Fingal’s Cave [post 5, Jose Lezcano, 118 pounds] enters off an impressive score in the one-mile state-bred Bay Ridge here on December 28 for trainer David Donk.

The 5-year-old Carpe Diem bay, who won the Bay Ridge off an over one-year long layoff, made every pole a winning one to score by 4 3/4-lengths.

“She is a big, scopey filly, a beautiful mover. I think she is very professional,” said Donk. “It was good to see her go forward with better horses and better company and run so well. This race Saturday is another step forward, but we are encouraged with what we see.”

Prior to the respite, Fingal’s Cave closed from 9 1/4-lengths back to earn place-honors in the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Raven Run in October 2022 at Keeneland after winning the state-bred Fleet Indian routing nine-furlongs at Saratoga.

Donk said the finish in the Raven Run displayed the usually forwardly-placed Fingal’s Cave’s ability to be tactical.

“At a mile or farther, I think she is very tactical. Saturday is seven-eighths, I think it just depends how much pace is in the race,” said Donk. “She has been close in her races but it was encouraging at Keeneland to be able to close from that far off the pace. Good horses do different things.”

Fingal’s Cave bested fellow state-bred maiden fillies by 8 1/2-lengths sprinting six furlongs in her racing debut made as a sophomore in May 2022 at Belmont Park. She followed with a nine-length romp of a state-bred allowance at seven furlongs at the same site and a 3 3/4-length triumph in an open-company allowance at Saratoga.

Bred by Chester Broman and Mary R. Broman, Fingal’s Cave, out of the winning Mineshaft mare Barbie on a Budget, is 6-5-1-0 with $370,500 in earnings.

Rounding out the field is graded-stakes placed Shidabhuti [post 6, Dylan Davis, 118 pounds] for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown; and Royal Poppy [post 3, Joel Rosario, 118 pounds], last out winner of a local optional-claimer for conditioner Ray Handal.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the spring meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.