After taking on graded stakes rivals in their past few starts, a pair of distaff runners from trainer Todd Pletcher's barn will seek black-type honors Jan. 19 when they top a field of seven in the $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Both Bellera and Another Broad, who will be uncoupled in the wagering, either won or placed in graded stakes company in 2019 and will be looking to start 2020 on a winning note in the 149th edition of the 1 1/8-mile Ladies.
Mathis Stable's Bellera is the 123-pound highweight, a designation based largely on a 1 3/4-length victory in the nine-furlong Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in her previous start.
Before that, the daughter of Bernardini and Another Broad were both entered in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct, but Bellera was squeezed at the start and lost her rider in a 1 1/8-mile race that served as her stakes debut.
In six starts, the daughter of the Unbridled's Song mare Habiboo has three wins and two seconds, with earnings of $209,960.
She will be ridden by Jose Lezcano and break from the outside post.
Kip Knelman's Another Broad is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Go For Wand Handicap (G3) behind the victorious multiple grade 1 winner Spiced Perfection.
The Go For Wand was the fourth consecutive appearance in a graded stakes for the 5-year-old daughter of Include . She was second in the Turnback the Alarm prior to the Dec. 7 Go For Wand and owns a victory in a two-turn stakes at Aqueduct, the Top Flight Invitational Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in April.
In 15 starts, she has four wins and three seconds, with earnings of $317,095. Eric Cancel will be aboard Another Broad, who will carry 121 pounds and leave from post 2.
The field of seven also includes Yoshihiro Ito's Entropia, who will be making her second start for trainer Bill Mott. After starting her career in her native Argentina, where she was a group 1 winner at 1 1/4 miles on dirt, the 5-year-old Mount Nelson mare made her United States debut on turf when she finished 11th in the Nov. 30 Long Island Stakes (G3T).
She was assigned 118 pounds and will break from the rail with Junior Alvarado.
Also on hand will be two starters exiting the Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-breds. Ten Strike Racing's Lucky Move was second, a nose behind winner Mrs. Orb, in the 1 1/8-mile stakes, while Michael Foster, trainer Charlton Baker, and Lauren Linn's Our Super Nova was fourth, 4 3/4 lengths behind.
Our Super Nova, who will tote 118 pounds, was a 1-2 favorite in the Bay Ridge after winding up third in the Go For Wand, two lengths in front of Another Broad.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, January 19, 2020, Race 7Entries: Ladies H.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Entropia (ARG)
Junior Alvarado
118
William I. Mott
5/1
2
2Another Broad (MD)
Eric Cancel
121
Todd A. Pletcher
5/2
3
3Nonsensical (KY)
Reylu Gutierrez
115
Thomas Albertrani
20/1
4
4Annie Rocks (FL)
Samuel Camacho, Jr.
114
Edward J. DeLauro
50/1
5
5Our Super Nova (NY)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
118
Charlton Baker
9/2
6
6Lucky Move (NY)
Kendrick Carmouche
117
Juan Carlos Guerrero
12/1
7
7Bellera (FL)
Jose Lezcano
123
Todd A. Pletcher
1/1