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Rossa Veloce seeks return to winning form in $100K Key Cents

by Keith McCalmont

Rossa Veloce, trained and co-owned by Ray Handal with Blue Streak Racing, returns to the main track in Sunday’s $100,000 Key Cents, a six-furlong sprint for state-bred juvenile fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Girolamo chestnut, a debut winner on dirt, finished sixth last out after exiting the inside post in a talented field of seven in the Grade 3 Matron on October 11 on the Belmont turf.

"We explored the grass option last time and she didn’t seem comfortable," said Handal. "I'm not sure if it was being on the inside or having a lot of horses around her, but it didn't work out. She bounced out of it well and was kicking down the barn like she didn't do any kind of running."

Bred by John Scott Rogers, Rossa Veloce graduated at first asking against state breds with a half-length score in a 5 ½-furlong main track sprint at Saratoga that registered a field-best 72 Beyer. She followed by chasing a hot pace en route to a distant fourth in the restricted Seeking the Ante at 6 ½-furlongs on the Spa main track.

Handal said the Seeking the Ante may have come back a little quick for Rossa Veloce.

"She had been training well into the first start at Saratoga and she ran the way she had been training,” said Handal. “In a perfect world, I probably would have given her six weeks between races, but it was the end of the meet and we didn't want to be sitting waiting for a race. She chased a hot pace and got tired, which is fine.”

Rossa Veloce has breezed three times at Belmont since the Matron, including a half-mile in 49.93 on the training track on November 8.

“Maybe I was too lax on her after she won and thought she was tighter than she was, but I’ve put my foot back on the gas pedal and really got some deep gallops and strong breezes into her,” said Handal. “I've breezed her a few times between races and put a couple good ones into her in company with a nice 2-year-old colt and got her tired and made sure she galloped out. I’m hoping she'll run back to that first race and if she does, she should be tough.”

Joel Rosario has the call from post 2.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of top contenders in Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Vacay and DutchessViews Farm’s homebred Shanes Pretty Lady.

Vacay, bred by J Stables, earned a 52 Beyer for her winning debut in 6 ½-furlong maiden allowance sprint contested over a sloppy and sealed Belmont main track on October 16 versus fellow state breds.

“We were happy with her debut and I think at the end of the day, she may want a little more ground. We were pleased with the way she ran,” said Pletcher.

A $100,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York Bred Yearling Sale, Vacay is out of the stakes winning Belgravia mare Florida Sun.

Shanes Pretty Lady, by Bellamy Road and out of the Phone Trick mare Sadietheprettylady, garnered a 59 Beyer for her 3 3/4-length score in a six-furlong state-bred maiden sprint on September 20 at Belmont Park. She was previously trained by Gary Gullo, who has since retired to become a racing manager.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Vacay from post 5, while Eric Cancel retains the mount aboard Shanes Pretty Lady from post 4.

Gold Star Racing Stable, Emcee Stable and Brian McKenzie’s Party At Page’s, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, graduated at second asking in an off-the-turf state-bred sprint on August 28 at the Spa and followed with a head score in the six-furlong Lady Finger on October 5 at Finger Lakes. Last out, the Gemolgoist bay, bred by T/C Stable, was an even fourth in the Maid of the Mist, a one-turn mile against Empire State breds on October 24 at Belmont.

Manny Franco will guide Party At Page’s from post 3.

Rounding out the field is Chasing Cara, a Richard Greeley homebred trained by Mitchell Friedman, who has posted back-to-back thirds in state-bred stakes company at Belmont, including the seven-furlong Joseph A. Gimma on October 1 and the one-mile Maid of the Mist on October 24. Dylan Davis keeps the call aboard Chasing Cara from the inside post.

The Key Cents is slated as Race 2 on Sunday's 10-race card which also features the $100,000 Winter Memories in Race 9. First post is 11:50 a.m. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

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