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Rice readies formidable duo for Broadway

by Najja Thompson

Aqueduct Racetrack's winter meet leading-trainer Linda Rice will look to continue her dominance in the standings when she saddles Holiday Disguise and Startwithsilver in the $100,000 Broadway for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going six furlongs on Saturday at the Big A.

Iris Smith Stable and Lady Shelia Stable's Startwithsilver, a 6-year-old mare by Jump Start, won last year's Broadway by six lengths. Since posting a personal-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in that win, she has one optional-claiming victory from four starts, including a third-place finish in the Correction last March at Aqueduct and a second-place finish in the Skipat on May 18 at Pimlico.

Following an eight-month freshening out of her sixth-place finish in the Regret on June 17 at Monmouth Park, Startwithsilver returns on Saturday with an eye on improving a stellar record of four wins from five career starts at Aqueduct, along with four wins from eight starts at the Broadway distance.

Holiday Disguise, a 5-year-old Harlan's Holiday mare also owned by Lady Shelia Stable, will look to rebound off a sixth-place finish last out in the Iroquois October 20 at Belmont Park. She has three wins from four starts at the Big A, along with a second-place finish.

"They're both doing well at the moment," said Rice. "Startwithsilver and Holiday Disguise are both scheduled to have their final work in preparation for this race tomorrow at Belmont, but they have each been breezing good. Both of them have a good record here at Aqueduct, so if they come out of their final workouts in good order, we'll expect to run both and for them to compete."

Startwithsilver with Dylan Davis aboard, will leave from post 7. Holiday Disguise will depart from post 3 with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will send out Pauseforthecause, for owners Chester and Mary Broman. A 4-year-old Giant's Causeway homebred, she has two wins in her last four starts, and will look to rebound off a third-place effort in the La Verdad on January 5.

"Her last time out, it was on an off track and she had some difficulty handling it," said McLaughlin. "She's been breezing well since then, so we'll regroup and take our shot."

With Rajiv Maragh scheduled to ride, Pauseforthecause will leave from post 2.

Filibustin, for owner Susan Moulton and trainer Gary Contessa, enters the Broadway off a 4 ½-length optional-claiming win on February 1 in her first start for her new conditioner. Previously, the 5-year-old Bustin Stones mare finished fourth in the Iroquois, but is 2-for-2 at Aqueduct, with a formidable three wins and three second-place finishes from 10 starts at the distance.

With Chris DeCarlo aboard, Filibustin will depart from post 6.

Also entered is I Still Miss You for Gold Star Racing table and trainer Jeremiah Englehart; Queeb, for trainer David St. Clair and owner John Baiano; and the Ray Handal duo of Absatootly and Palladian Bridge for owners Newman Racing, and Cutair Racing, respectively.

First post time on Saturday's nine-race card is 12:50 p.m.