Fifty to make turf debut off quick turnaround in Saturday's Woodhaven

by Brian Bohl/Najja Thompson

Pure Silver makes 2018 debut in NYSS Park Avenue

Fifty will try to sustain his winning ways on a quick turnaround, running back eight days after capturing an allowance race in Saturday's $100,000 Woodhaven for 3-year-olds on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The fourth running of the Woodhaven, carded as Race 3, is one of two stakes on Saturday's slate. The $100,000 New York Stallion Series Park Avenue, Race 9, has an approximate post of 5:49 p.m. and will be shown on FS2 as part of FOX Sports Saturday At The Races, which will air from 4-6 p.m. (ET) and include live coverage and analysis of the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. NYRA's team coverage from Aqueduct will also feature Gabby Gaudet's on-site coverage from Charles Town.

Fifty enters his first stakes appearance coming off back-to-back wins. The son of Giant's Causeway broke his maiden at second asking on March 4 before winning at six furlongs on April 13 at the Big A. After starting his career with two wins in three dirt sprints, trainer and co-owner Linda Rice will move Fifty to the grass and see if he can handle the 1 1/16-mile distance.

"When I claimed him, I thought he might be better on the turf, and with the race being at Aqueduct, I figured I'd take a look at him," Rice said. "I think he has a chance to move up on the turf. If it was a 10-horse field, I'd be less inclined to do it."

Rice said the five-horse field could be advantageous for Fifty, who will also be looking to follow in the footsteps of Voodoo Song, who was able to win multiple races in short succession in logging four victories for Rice in the Saratoga summer meet.

"We have [success] with turnarounds once in awhile," Rice said with a laugh.

Manny Franco, who has ridden all of Fifty's races, will have the return call from post 4.

Archaggelos is the field's lone graded stakes winner, earning a 2 ¼-length win in the Grade 3 Grey as a juvenile in October on Woodbine's synthetic track at the Woodhaven distance. After a second-place finish on the turf, the Temple City colt broke his maiden on grass as well before switching to all-weather tracks in his last three starts.

Trained by Michael Dickinson, Archaggelos has two wins in four starts in routes. Dylan Davis will ride from post 2.

August Dawn Farm's Nine Route will also be switching back to turf after showing improvement on the main track. After starting his career on grass, trainer Jeremiah Englehart moved the New York-bred to dirt, where he registered a three-length score in the Gander on February 18 at Aqueduct before running seventh in his 2018 debut in the Grade 3 Gotham at one mile.

Nine Route, who has three wins in five career starts and earnings of $128,948, will make his first stakes appearance on turf, breaking from post 3 with Rajiv Maragh in the irons. 

Sand Dancer will return to stakes competition after a pair of runner-up finishes an a third-place effort in his last four starts in optional claimers. The son of 2010 Wood Memorial winner Eskendereya made his first stakes start at Belmont Park, running fifth in the Awad on October 28. Trained by Timothy Hills, Sand Dancer will make his first appearance at Aqueduct drawing the outside post with Trevor McCarthy aboard.

Infield Is In, trained by Richard Metivier, will make his 14th career start and first stakes appearance in drawing the rail with jockey Abel Lezcano.

Twin Creek Racing Stable's graded stakes winner Pure Silver will make her 2018 debut facing a field of nine in the NYSS Park Avenue for 3-year-olds.

A New York home bred daughter of Mission Impazible, Pure Silver won her first three career starts, including an impressive 9 ½-length victory in the Grade 2 Adirondack last August at Saratoga. She followed with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinaway at the Spa. 

The Todd Pletcher trainee failed to reach the winner's circle in her next three starts in New York-bred stakes but finished second twice, including a loss by a nose in the NYSS Fifth Avenue.

Pure Silver will depart from post 4 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard.

Our Super Nova, for owner and trainer Lauren Linn, will look to move forward off a second-place finish in the Maddie May on March 24 at Aqueduct. Breaking her maiden in her fourth career start at Finger Lakes, she returned on March 18 at the Big A to win an optional-claiming race.

With Dylan Davis in the irons, Our Super Nova will leave from post 7.

Rounding out the field is My Roxy Girl for owner Richard Greeley and trainer Mitch Friedman entering off a pair of second-place finishes in the Franklin Square on February 24 and an optional-claiming race on March 23 at Aqueduct; Cathy Naz for trainer H. James Bond; Aunt Babe, for owner Louis Ferrari and trainer James Ferraro; Orchid Party and Giant Boxer for trainer Rudy Rodriguez; and Wegetsdamunnys and Baby Boss for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.