New York-bred juvenile fillies ready to battle in East View

by Najja Thompson

A talented field of nine New York-bred juvenile fillies will each look to end the year with a stakes victory in the $100,000 East View when live racing returns at Aqueduct Racetrack following a four-day winter break on Thursday, December 28. 

Entering for Zilla Racing Stables and trainer Ray Handal is English Soul. Sired by English Channel, she made her debut on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course on the turf where she quickly grabbed the lead establishing herself on the front end from a field of 10 before being caught late at the wire to finish second by a neck. 

She impressively broke her maiden in her second start by 14 ¼ lengths in a race initially intended for the turf but moved over a sloppy main track at Belmont Park.

Moving up to stakes class in her next start in the Chelsey Flower on the turf at Aqueduct on November 9, she ran sixth. Most recently, she captured an optional-claiming race moved off the turf over a sloppy main track at Aqueduct on November 22, recording a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 3-1 morning line favorite, English Soul will leave from post 6 with Manny Franco aboard.

Set to make her third career start and first start since breaking her maiden on December 6 at the Big A, winning by 3 ¼ lengths, is Cryinthemoonlight for owner Albert Fried, Jr. and trainer Charlie Baker.

A daughter of Street Cry, Cryinthemoonlight made her first start on November 18 at Aqueduct in which she drew post 13 from a field of 14 and raced 4 wide most of the way to finish eighth. Returning to earn a 69 Beyer Speed Figure last out, she will look to reunite with winning rider Dylan Davis. 

Drawing the rail, Cryinthemoonlight is the second-choice on the morning line at 7-2.

Trainer Mark Hennig will enter Cause We Are Loyal for Reddam Racing. A daughter of Creative Cause, she has two wins from five career starts. Starting her career with trainer Doug O'Neill, she broke her maiden in her second career start on July 15 at Los Alimitos Race Course. Shipping east to New York, she then won her first stakes race taking the Seeking the Ante on August 25.  Following a fifth-place finish in the Maid of the Mist at Belmont on October 21 she was transferred to Hennig. Last out, she ran fourth in the Key Cents on November 24 at Aqueduct.

The third choice on the morning line at odds of 4-1, Cause We Are Loyal will leave from post 5 with Junior Alvarado in the irons.  

Rounding out the field is Purely Lucky for owners Michael and Jules Iavarone and trainer Brad Cox; Rachel's Blue Moon for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and Chester and Mary Broman; Miss Mystique for Treadway Racing Stable and trainer Leah Gyarmati; Southern Gal for trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley; Salty Smile for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and Gabrielle Farm; and Miss Jen for trainer Jimmy Ryerson and owner Anthony Perri.