Gambling Girl, Aniston Seek Busanda Win for Pletcher

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out graded stakes-placed Gambling Girl  and maiden winner Aniston  in pursuit of his sixth score in the $100,000 Busanda Stakes, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies Jan. 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Spendthrift Farm's Aniston enters her stakes debut off a second-out graduation Nov. 25 at the Big A in her first start contesting two turns. Although never a factor in her Sept. 18 debut going a one-turn mile at Belmont at the Big A, the daughter of Curlin   showed quite the turnaround next out when saving ground a close third-to-fourth down the backstretch and slid up the rail passing the quarter pole to draw away a 4 3/4-length winner.

"She's trained well and shown some talent," said Pletcher's Belmont Park-based assistant Byron Hughes. "She's a big scopey filly and it seems like she wants to run all day. That's our mindset with her and she's proved us right so far."

Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift Farm, credited Pletcher's patient handling of Aniston, who he said has come along similarly to other Curlin progeny.

"Todd feels that she's kind of a typical Curlin and he has done a really nice job of taking his time and understanding what she is, what she needs and what will suit her," Toffey said. "He's put us in a good position to begin to take advantage of the races that do suit her instead of trying to force her to be something she's not. I think the two turns is a big part of it, but I also think it was time and maturity."

Bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud, Aniston is out of the unraced Indian Charlie mare Kateri, making her a full sister to graded stakes winner and grade 1-placed Souper Sensational . Her second dam is graded stakes winner Sue's Good News , who produced grade 1-winning millionaire Tiz Miz Sue  and 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin . Aniston was acquired for $550,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"Sire power, pedigree and looks," said Toffey when asked of Aniston's appeal at the sale. "Usually, it's some combination of those three qualities and she very much has the look of a quality filly. When you see a nice Curlin, chances are you'll have to pay a bit for it."

Pletcher also sends out Repole Stable's New York-bred Gambling Girl, who enters from a third-place finish in the nine-furlong Dec. 3 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) here in her open-company and two-turn debut.

Bred by Gallagher's Stud, the daughter of Dialed In   made the third time the charm with an emphatic 10 1/2-length score going seven furlongs Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course before capturing her stakes debut in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes four weeks later at Belmont at the Big A.

Gambling Girl was bought for $200,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. She is out of the three-time winning Empire Maker mare Tulipmania, whose second dam, Felicita, produced multiple grade 1 winner and 2014 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady .

Rounding out the field is Chad Brown trainee Occult , Demoiselle runner-up Affirmative Lady , and Sweetest Princess  who is conditioned by George Weaver.

Entries: Busanda S.

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, January 14, 2023, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 3:47 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gambling Girl (NY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
2	2Occult (KY)	Dylan Davis	118	Chad C. Brown	7/5
3	3Affirmative Lady (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	H. Graham Motion	9/5
4	4Sweetest Princess (NY)	Eric Cancel	118	George Weaver	12/1
5	5Aniston (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Todd A. Pletcher	5/1