Just Beat the Odds Takes on Five in Elite Power Stakes

Donna Wright's Just Beat the Odds —who is looking to do just that—will make his graded stakes debut in the $250,000 Elite Power Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 5-year-old son of Munnings   has not raced since April, with his last win coming in March of this year—where he won an allowance optional claiming race by 6 lengths. His trainer is confident the layoff will not hinder his performance.

"Some horses need a race, but he's a type that has come around quickly this time," trainer Gregory Sacco said. "The layoff shouldn't bother him. He is a really solid dude, with a lot of talent. It is not an easy task to come back off a layoff in a stakes, but he's really worked very well each week and has given us every indication he's ready to run."

The gelding turned in a sharp half-mile breeze Nov. 29 at Belmont Park, going 4 furlongs in :48.40.

"He is a horse that is very talented and he worked very good," Sacco said. "He worked super, in fact, he hooked up with a horse—not by choice—but it was OK, he drew away. He cooled out great, so we will put him in the Elite Power. It is either this or a conditions allowance, they all come up strong. You have to run a top figure to win either, but he likes Aqueduct and is on schedule for Saturday."

He will take on Jay Em Ess Stable's Full Moon Madness , the lone graded stakes winner in the field. The Michelle Nevin-trained son of Into Mischief   enters Saturday's race off a third-place finish in the Nov. 2 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3).

Stakes winner Subrogate , who was fourth in the Bold Ruler, comes into the race off a quick turnaround. The son of Arrogate finished third in the Dave's Friend Stakes Nov. 22 at Laurel Park for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr.

Trainer Linda Rice will send out a pair of New York-bred stakes winners in Acoustic Ave  and El Grande O . El Grande O defeated his stablemate Acoustic Ave by a head last out in an allowance optional claimer Oct. 9. Acoustic Ave has run twice since then, most recently finishing third against state-bred company in the Hudson Stakes Oct. 25.

"His first start back at Saratoga was somewhat of a debacle," Rice said of El Grande O's Aug. 29 start off a six-month layoff. "He didn't get underway well and was declared a nonstarter—he made a middle move, but he needed that race. He came back and ran very well, so we were pleased. We gave him quite a bit of time before we ran him back (Oct. 9). This race, I hope that time will help him again.

"I think he's best as a closing sprinter. He seems to like the winter at Aqueduct."

Jeremiah Kane's homebred St. Jude  rounds out the field.

Impressive Maiden Winner Daniella Marie Makes Stakes Debut in NYSSS

Daniella Marie, a 9 1/4-length maiden winner last month at Aqueduct, looks to take the next step as she faces stakes company for the first time in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series. The 7-furlong race is open to eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies, and has attracted a field of 13.

"It's a big deal, a big purse, and a once in a lifetime opportunity," trainer Chad Summers said. "(Daniella Marie's sire) Honest Mischief won (sired) both legs of this race last year. It's the Kentucky Derby for New York-sired 2-year-olds and there's a reason there will be a full field in there. (Owner) Roddy Valente is bringing a busload of people down for the race."

Summers said the addition of blinkers to the daughter of Honest Mischief   has improved her focus.

"She's fast and normally you wouldn't think about putting blinkers on, but they've actually had the opposite response and they've kind of been a pacifier to her," Summers said. "She was able to sit off horses a little bit last time."

New York's leading freshman sire of 2024, Honest Mischief has three other entrants in the race including the undefeated Oh . William Butler's homebred was last seen winning the Lady Finger Stakes Sept. 22.

Overflow Field for Great White Way Division

The $500,000 Great White Way Division of the NYSSS drew 14 entries, with two on the also-eligible list. The 7-furlong race for eligible New York-sired juveniles is highlighted by Cash is King and LC Racing's Parker Boone .

The 2-year-old son of up-and-coming sire Solomini   was most impressive on debut, taking a 6-furlong maiden special weight at Parx Racing by 12 1/4 lengths for trainer Butch Reid Jr.

"He's a big, strong horse and trained very well against some good ones we have around here, so we had a pretty good idea that he was going to give a good account of himself," Reid said. "The best thing about him is he has a good head on his shoulders—we knew none of it would be too big for him and he acted great in the paddock and prerace. He passed all those tests with flying colors and he's ready to move on to the next step."

Reid thinks the extra furlong will benefit his runner.

"He trains just as far as we want to here and has handled everything we've thrown at him very well. His exercise rider thinks the farther the better for him. We shall see," Reid said.

Trainer Anthony Ferraro will send out a pair of talented 2-year-olds in Tin Cup Chalice Stakes winner Muscle Shoals , and recent maiden winner Hey Pal .

Muscle Shoals, a gelded son of Redesdale , won the Tin Cup Chalice Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths Nov. 10, just a week after breaking his maiden in a front-running victory.

"It was an easy race for him," Ferraro said of the Tin Cup. "We wanted to see how he could settle and get behind horses and he did everything we asked of him. When he did ask him, he just exploded, and Luis Perez just sat on him the last 70 yards."

Ferraro's homebred Hey Pal comes into the race off a 12 1/4-length score in a 1-mile maiden special weight Nov. 12. The son of Bustin Stones  should appreciate the 7 furlongs.

"As we kept learning about him (Hey Pal), we knew the farther he went the better he was going to be, hence the reason we took him out to a mile to break his maiden," Ferraro said. "The timing of that race was perfect for this race and also for him to get his confidence up going seven-eighths, which he should like a lot."