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Interstatedaydream kicks off Big A fall stakes schedule with $150K Turnback the Alarm score

by Brian Bohl

Flurry Racing Stables’ graded stakes-winner Interstatedaydream went eye-to-eye with Tizzy in the Sky in deep stretch before edging her rival from the outside by a neck to capture Friday’s $150,000 Turnback the Alarm, a nine-furlong test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 29th running of the Turnback the Alarm, the first stake of the Aqueduct fall meet that commenced Thursday, saw Tizzy in the Sky break sharp from post 2 under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, leading the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.42 seconds, the half in 47.98 and three-quarters in 1:12.10 with Interstatedaydream and rider Trevor McCarthy in close pursuit on the fast main track.

Out of the final turn, McCarthy put his charge on even terms with the pacesetter to her inside, with the duo going stride-for-stride approaching the final sixteenth before Interstatedaydream pulled away and hit the wire in 1:50.34.

Off as the 4-5 favorite, Interstatedaydream returned $3.90 on a $2 win wager. Trained by Brad Cox, the multiple graded stakes-winning 4-year-old daughter of Classic Empire registered her fifth stakes win and has finished on-the-board in 13-of-14 career starts, improving her bankroll to $806,369. She earned $82,500 from Friday’s victory.

Interstatedaydream won the 2022 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course and the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis, adding to placings in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga Race Course. This season, she went gate-to-wire to win the Allaire Dupont Distaff in May at Pimlico and a win in her previous effort in the Twixt in September at Laurel Park.

“The plan was to be aggressive with her,” McCarthy said. “If the horse on the inside [Bellamore] went with Kendrick, then it would set up for me again. But if no one went with her, it was my job to be aggressive and not let her get away. If we weren’t latched on to her as close as we were, I don’t think we were beating that filly today.”

KimDom Racing’s Tizzy in the Sky, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, made her first stakes appearance of her 4-year-old year and built on a 9 3/4-length victory over optional claimers last month at Aqueduct by besting Morning Matcha by four lengths for second.

Bellamore, who stumbled out of the gate from the inside post, finished fourth, with Fireline completing the order of finish.

“Trevor broke great, rode the perfect race, and sat right off the Todd Pletcher horse [Tizzy in the Sky],” said Staton Flurry, winning owner of Interstatedaydream. “My horse has a lot of heart and she’s proven that in almost every race she’s been in. Whenever she looks a horse in the eye, it’s a dog fight. You can always bet that she’s going to grind it out and get it done. I’m glad to see her cross the wire first and come back well.

“We’ll get her back to Kentucky and see what happens come Wednesday,” Flurry added. “The plan is to put her in the Keeneland November Sale [listed as Hip No. 201], but you never know.”

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.