Adam Coglianese Photo

With the Angels the one to beat in $100K Key Cents

by Christian Abdo

Dual stakes-winner With the Angels is a perfect 3-for-3 and looks to further her tally in Sunday’s $100,000 Key Cents, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Linda Rice for owners Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford H. Robbins, With the Angels dominated a six-furlong state-bred maiden in her August debut at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a 9 3/4-length romp in the local seven-furlong Joseph A. Gimma in September.

The Omaha Beach dark bay now cuts back to six furlongs after a 3 1/4-length score in the one-turn mile Maid of the Mist last-out on October 27 here - her shortest margin of victory to date. The performance received a 79 Beyer Speed Figure after earning a career and field-best 89 in the Gimma.

“I thought it was a smidgen flat for her, so we are not going to go any farther than that this year. We will wait until next year as a 3-year-old,” said Rice, adding that the nine-furlong Grade 2 Demoiselle in December here seemed ambitious.

Rice said that With the Angels checked all the boxes in her first breeze back, covering a half-mile in 47.90 seconds solo on November 10 over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“She went well - 47 and four - nicely,” said Rice. “It [the cutback] might be an opportunity to let her sit off of it a little bit, we’ll see how she shows up.”

With the Angels [post 1, Jose Ortiz], bred by Joseph DeRico, is out of the winning Pulpit mare Sister Margaret. Her second dam is the multiple stakes-winning Disco Rico mare Dance Gal Dance, who won 6-of-9 starts led by four New York-bred stakes wins.

Rice will also saddle William Sinkler’s homebred Nina Kay [post 3, Jose Lezcano], who won her only start when stalking and pouncing to victory under Jose Lezcano in a six-furlong off-the-turf maiden versus fellow state-breds on September 28 here.

The Cupid gray finished 3 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Disco Star, earning a 61 Beyer in victory.

“She needs to step her game up for this race, but she deserves a shot in there,” Rice said.

Trainer Jorge Abreu sends out NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and SunsetRidge Racing Stable’s stakes-winner Stone Smuggler [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], who finished second to With the Angels in her August debut at the Spa.

The Honest Mischief bay exited to capture the state-bred Lady Finger by 3 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Mischief Lady last-out on September 23 at Finger Lakes Racetrack. There, Stone Smuggler led at each call of the 5 1/2-furlong contest on sloppy and sealed footing en route to a comfortable victory.

The performance earned a career-best 68 Beyer, improving upon a 57 when second to Sunday’s likely favorite.

Bred by Eaton and Thorne, Inc., Stone Smuggler, out of the winning Bustin Stones mare Bustinattheseams, was a $57,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearling Sale.

Bellacose [post 5, Manny Franco] will make her first start in the barn of four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown. In two efforts for conditioner Jeremiah Englehart, the Audible dark bay crushed fellow state-breds by 10 3/4 lengths on debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs in July at Saratoga before a misfire in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway in August there.

Bred by Beals Racing Stable and Saratoga Glen Farm, Bellacose is out of the Uncle Mo mare Little Bullet, making her second dam Grade 3-winner Bahnah. She is campaigned by Resolute Racing, Christopher Dunn, Blue Tarp Racing, Chris Mara, Greyhound Stables, Nicholas Sgroi, Arthur Sgroi, Jonathan Sacks and Corrin Genovese.

Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable’s Bam’s Bliss Kiss [post 8, Luis Rivera, Jr.] enters from a second-out graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs versus fellow state-breds on October 5 here. Trained by David Duggan, the Solomini dark bay led from gate-to-wire under Luis Rivera, Jr. with enough in reserve to repel a closing Off Script.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss improved from a third when debuting on grass in a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden in August at the Spa.

“It was a starting point. It [turf] was the best option for her at that time - the other option was seven-eighths on the dirt, and we didn't want to do that,” said Duggan. “Shorter seems to be better for her, she's fast.

“We're testing deeper waters here, so we'll see. This will be interesting to see where we stand in the pecking order,” Duggan added.

Bred by Torie D. Gladwell, Bam’s Bliss Kiss, out of the Into Mischief mare Kiska, was a $95,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Rounding out the field are stakes-placed Valtellina [post 4, Dylan Davis] for trainer Ray Handal; maiden-winner D’s a Rock [post 2, Katie Davis] for conditioner Chad Summers; in addition to a pair of maiden-winners for trainer Wesley Ward including Shoot It True [post 6, Frankie Dettori, blinkers OFF] and Phoebeinwonderland [post 9, John Velazquez] - both are cross-entered in Saturday’s state-bred $100,000 Notebook going six furlongs versus males.

The Key Cents is slated as Race 6 on Sunday’s nine-race card that also features the $135,000 Tepin in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, 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 fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.