Francesca LeDonne Photo

Majestic Reason headlines Pumpkin Pie

by Najja Thompson

Set to make her first start since finishing third in the Grade 3 Gallant Bloom Handicap on September 22, stakes winner Majestic Reason will headline a field of seven in Saturday's $100,000 Pumpkin Pie at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The rescheduled Pumpkin Pie was moved when Closing Day at Belmont Park was canceled after the first race due to heavy rainfall and high winds on October 27. Also featured on Saturday's 10-race card is the $150,000 Artie Schiller and the $100,000 Atlantic Beach. First post is set for noon.

Hillwood Stable and Richard L. Golden's Majestic Reason enters the Pumpkin Pie, a seven furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward, with a consistent record of 9-4-3-2, including a stakes win in the Miss Disco last August at Laurel Park.

Last out, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Majestic Warrior made her first start outside of her home state, where she was third beaten 5 ½ lengths to Come Dancing in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park.

Trainer Graham Motion said he is confident of a good performance from the consistent filly.

"You have to love a filly who goes out and runs all the time," Motion said. "She's never run out of the money. We stepped her up last time and it was a big jump. As a trainer, you admire a horse who always makes you look good and you don't have to worry about. You just know when you send her out there, they are going to perform at that level. You have to have a soft spot for a horse like that."

Motion said his biggest concern moving forward is stretching her back out to seven furlongs.

"She showed she wasn't too far behind those fillies [in the Gallant Bloom]," Motion said. "I love this filly. She's never done anything wrong. She's very consistent. Initially, we were thinking about scratching the morning of the race but having been rescheduled for Aqueduct we hope she runs her race and improves off her last start."

Maryland-based rider Jorge Vargas, Jr. has been aboard Majestic Reason in eight of her nine career starts and will be reunited with the filly when she leaves from post 7.

Newtown Anner Stud and Mark D. Breen's Saguaro Row is still in search of a stakes victory but came close twice this year at Saratoga and Laurel Park, both in races named the Shine Again. The Michael Stidham-trained 4-year-old Union Rags bay was third in the Shine Again at Laurel in her most recent start as the 2-1 favorite.

"She's always been solid in her training in the mornings and the afternoon as well. We're looking forward to running her in this spot," Stidham said.

Saguaro Row was a dual allowance winner this season at Keeneland and Belmont Park, where she was piloted by Joel Rosario, who will be aboard once more on Sunday from post 6.

Trainer Jason Servis will saddle Gary and Mary West's Philanthropic. A daughter of Malibu Moon, she broke her maiden in her fourth career start and first for Servis in June at Monmouth Park winning by 3 ¾ lengths. Last out, on September 15 at Monmouth, she won an optional-claiming race by five lengths.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Philanthropic from the inside post.

Completing the field are Last True Love [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche], Honor Way [post 4, Eric Cancel], Golconda [post 3, Joe Bravo], and Pink Sands [post 5, Jose Ortiz].