Taris Ships, Stretches Out for Go For Wand

Proven more than formidable sprinting, Taris will stretch out a bit and head east for the $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.



A two-time graded winner at sprint distances and a third-place finisher last time out in the seven-furlong TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) despite a less-than-ideal trip, the 4-year-old Flatter   filly will stretch out to a one-turn mile for the first time in the Go For Wand.



Her only start beyond seven furlongs—in March of 2014, when she set the pace and tired to sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park—came before she was purchased by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith for $2.35 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale and moved to the barn of trainer Simon Callaghan, who signed the ticket that night.



"We've always been keen to stretch her out," Callaghan said. "The one-turn mile at Aqueduct is a good place to do it. She's relaxing really well and it's a good opportunity. We're not concerned about the distance at all."



The trainer was also happy with the filly's most-recent workout, when she drilled five furlongs in a bullet :58 3/5 at Santa Anita Park Nov. 20, the fastest of 40 at the distance that day. Callaghan said Taris will ship to New York Nov. 24.



"She worked great—went really, really good," Callaghan said. "She got hooked up with a couple (other workers) and went quicker than we ideally wanted, but it was really within herself."



Taris will likely be the speediest in the field at the highweight of 121 pounds, but others provide experience at the distance and beyond.



The stoutest challenger appears to be Seajay Racing's Spelling Again, who broke through last time out going a mile at Churchill Downs in the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 7. The 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Again   trained by Brad Cox cruised to a commanding 4 1/2-length victory for her first graded score and has won three of her last four starts, her only misfire coming in the six-furlong Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II), when she was squeezed at the start.

NOVAK: Spelling Again Sails Clear in Chilukki



Bobby Flay's homebred America, a 4-year-old A.P. Indy filly, also earned her first graded win going 1 1/16 miles in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) last time out Oct. 30 at Belmont Park. Trained by Bill Mott, America has a won her last three starts at Aqueduct—two allowance wins in 2014 and the Affectionately Stakes last January—all at distances exceeding a mile.

LEWYN: America All the Way in Turnback the Alarm



Multiple graded stakes placed Willet and Kiss to Remember, along with stakes winner Mei Ling and last-out allowance victress Playful Love, complete the field.