Flying Connection Battles Vagrancy Trio in Bed o' Roses

The top three finishers from the May 18 Vagrancy Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack—Leave No Trace , Big Pond , and Hot Fudge —battle seven others in the $200,000 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) June 15 there. Four rivals in the seven-furlong dirt sprint start in New York for the first time this year, among them the twice grade 1-placed stakes winner Flying Connection .

The latter, a well-traveled 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist  , has faced some of the top female dirt horses in the country in her last two starts after kicking off her year with a win in the Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park. As a follow-up to that race, she ran a distant second to Adare Manor  in the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park before finishing third in the May 4 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby (G1) day. There, she finished 2 3/4 lengths behind victorious Vahva , and three-quarters of a length behind runner-up Alva Starr , who last week returned to take the Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park.

Flying Connection is closing in on millionaire status, having compiled a 7-2-2 record in 15 starts with earnings of $937,300. A win would push her over that seven-figure threshold for owners Brad King, Gary Randall Andrews, George Coleman, Chris George, James Cone, Suzann Kirby, and Lee Lewis.

Rob Atras has taken over her training in New York from the New Mexico-based Todd Fincher.

"Todd shipped her in about a week before her race at Churchill, and we got to know her a bit. She ran great that day," said Atras. "I'm glad we could get her acclimated to New York. She has worked really well and I'm hoping she can run just as good as when Todd had her." 

Ricardo Santana Jr., aboard when she ran second in the Apple Blossom, returns in the irons as the filly goes in quest of her first graded stakes win.

Leave No Trace Finds Calling as Dirt Sprinter

Already a graded winner—at the top level, no less—is WellSpring Stables' Leave No Trace, who captured the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in September 2022. Her best races over her 11-race career have come in sprints on dirt, including in her last two starts, both victories, with an allowance optional claiming win preceding her Vagrancy score.

"When it gets right down to it, the fact of the matter is she's 4-for-4 sprinting on the dirt," trainer Phil Serpe said. 

Jose Lezcano rides.

Likely to improve with a start over the Aqueduct surface is Big Pond, who fell further off the pace than usual in the Vagrancy before making up ground late to finish three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

Other leading contenders include:

•  Accede , a grade-2 placed filly coming off two consecutive allowance and allowance optional claiming races;
• Morning Matcha , who placed in the 2022 Cotillion Stakes (G1) and who steps up in class after two restricted stakes victories;
• Grade 3 winner Shidabhuti , a skilled one-turn filly who ran third behind Soul of an Angel  and Randomized  in the one-mile Ruffian Stakes (G2) last out.