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Yo Cuz seeks fourth straight stakes score in NYSSS Park Avenue

by Keith McCalmont

Dream Maker Racing’s Yo Cuz brings a three-race win streak, all in stakes company, to Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies, on Closing Day of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Laoban bay has made all four career starts at the Big A, graduating in style at second asking, traveling gate-to-wire to capture the seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue by 1 3/4-lengths on December 18.

Bred in the Empire State by Seidman Stables, Yo Cuz, out of the Tale of Ekati mare Steve’s Philly, followed with similar frontrunning scores against fellow state-breds in the Maddie May in February, taking the one-turn mile by 3 1/4-lenghts ahead of a 5 1/4-length romp last out on March 27 in the seven-furlong East View.

The $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase breezed a half-mile in 49.27 Saturday over the Belmont dirt training track.

“She came out of the East View in great shape. She's moving right along and on schedule. She's had a couple of good works and is doing well,” said Tom Gallo of Dream Maker Racing. “You have to take advantage of the New York stallion stakes, it's a $200,000 purse. Hopefully, she continues to improve and can win. It's been a great Aqueduct and we hope to close it out on a high note.”

Yo Cuz has improved her Beyer Speed Figure in each start, garnering an 80 for her East View score. Gallo said that steady progression is a testament to the patient approach the team has taken with the talented bay.

“She's steadily improving and she's a young horse. She only started running in November and won the big race in December,” Gallo said. “We just don't think that the numbers she's running right now justify taking those big jumps. Everyone wants to win the Oaks or the Derby but we are trying to develop the horse and give her the physical maturity and confidence and evolve with each race.

“We're going step by step and over the past couple of races she's improved her demeanor,” Gallo added. “She has become more professional as far as vanning over from Belmont and standing in the paddock. She's carrying good weight and seems to be improving with every race and that's what we like to see.”

Jose Ortiz, aboard for all four starts, will retain the mount from the inside post. Gallo credited Ortiz with the decision to take command early in her three victories, but said the filly doesn’t necessarily need the lead.

“I think that's just the way it's set up the past three races. Nobody took the lead, so Jose took command of the lead and throttled it down,” Gallo said. “I don't think she needs to be on the lead. That's just the continuity of having the same rider on the filly and he has a lot of confidence in her and really likes the filly. They're a good team.”

Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark’s Kisses for Emily graduated in style last out, posting a rallying one-length score over returning rival Starship Laoban in the six-furlong Society Hill on March 8 at Parx.

Trained by Louis C. Linder, Jr., the Union Jackson chestnut, bred in the Empire State by Sequel Stallions and Lakland Farm, boasts a record of 6-1-1-2.

Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 2.

Morris E. Kernan, Jr. and Jagger Inc.’s Starship Laoban exited the Society Hill to win a seven-furlong optional-claiming sprint by 7 1/4-lengths on April 5 at Parx. The dark bay daughter of Laoban, bred in New York by Mustang Farms, sports a ledger of 7-3-2-1.

Ruben Silvera will ride from post 6.

WellSpring Stables’ Bank On Anna, a Central Banker dark bay bred in New York by Lou Corrente, finished fifth as a maiden in the Great White Way. She followed with a six-length romp over Kisses for Emily in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight here on January 22, and exited that effort to notch a rallying half-length score in a six-furlong state-bred optional-claimer on March 18 at Aqueduct.

Bank On Anna will emerge from post 5 under Jose Lezcano.

Rounding out the field are maiden winners Gris Tormenta [post 3, Javier Castellano] and Galaxina [post 7, Trevor McCarthy], along with maiden Celebrity News [post 4, Manny Franco], who adds blinkers.

The NYSSS Park Avenue is slated as Race 3 on Sunday’s nine-race card, which also features the $100,000 Memories of Silver in Race 8. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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