Chelsea Durand Photo

Our Super Nova aims to soar in Bay Ridge

by Najja Thompson

Looking to close out her 4-year-old campaign on a winning note, Our Super Nova will headline a field of seven in the $100,000 Bay Ridge for New York-bred fillies 3-years-old and upward on Sunday, December 29 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained and co-owned by Charlie Baker in partnership with Michael Foster and Lauren Linn, the Boys At Toscanova filly has a consistent record of two wins, with two second-place finishes and two thirds from seven starts this year.

Last out, in her graded stakes debut, she ran a commendable third in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap on December 7 at the Big A. Jockey Junior Alvarado has been aboard for each of Our Super Nova's stars this year and Baker said he is confident she is coming into the Bay Ridge in good order.

"She showed good energy in the Go for Wand against good company and has continued to train well since," said Baker. "She seems like she'll appreciate the stretch out in distance. The last time she ran at a mile [Empire Classic, October 19] she closed well and was beaten by a head. Hopefully, she'll appreciate the extra panel and get some pace in the race."

Our Super Nova will depart from post 5.

Entering off three consecutive victories is Mrs. Orb for conditioner Michael Miceli, who also owns with Ruggeri Stable, Richard Coburn and Script R Farm. The 4-year-old Orb filly broke her maiden in her second start this year and after finishing eleventh in an allowance race, she has wheeled off three consecutive wins including an allowance win in her most recent start on November 27.

Unraced at the Bay Ridge 1 1/8 miles distance, but holding an impressive record of two wins from five starts with one second-place finish and a third at Aqueduct, Miceli said he hopes Mrs. Orb and keep the momentum going into her first stakes win.

"She's really turned a corner of late and has come into her own," said Miceli. "We always thought she was talented, which is why we ran her against maiden special weight company until she finally broke her maiden. She seems to have turned a corner and figured things out. Ideally, we'd like some pace in there, but she's coming into this race well."

With Dylan Davis aboard, Mrs. Orb will leave from post 6.

Conditioner Phil Serpe entered a formidable pair in Held Accountable and Out of Orbit for owners Chester and Mary Broman.

A 4-year-old Exchange Rate filly, Held Accountable will make her first start in three months since finishing third in the Empire Distaff on October 19 at Belmont. She kicked off her season with a third-place finish in an optional-claiming race on July 26 at Saratoga and followed up with a second-place running in the Saratoga Dew to Out of Orbit on August 8.

Out of Orbit, a 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly, followed her victory in the Saratoga Dew with an off-the-board effort in the Empire Distaff on October 19.

Drawing post 3, Held Accountable will be ridden by Eric Cancel. Out of Orbit will leave from post 1 with Manny Franco aboard.

Rounding out the field is Fight On Lucy for trainer Pat Kelly and owner Ellen Bongard (post 2, Reylu Gutierrez); Lucky Move for Ten Strike Racing and trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero (post 4, Kendrick Carmouche) and Cartwheel for trainer Mark Hennig and owner William Parsons, Jr. (post 7, Jose Lezcano).

The Bay Ridge is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's nine-race card. First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.