Francesca Le Donne Photo

​Big Q seeks stakes success in Key Cents

by Ryan Martin

DutchessViews Farm's Big Q will seek her first stakes score when she takes on a field of seven New York-bred juvenile fillies in Saturday's $100,000 Key Cents, a six furlong main-track sprint at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Gary Gullo, the Big Brown bay launched her career with a trio of starts at Saratoga Race Course where she was an upset winner in her July 31 debut before subsequent fifth-place finishes in the Grade 2 Adirondack on August 4 and the Seeking the Ante three weeks later.

Gullo said Big Q ran deceptively well in the Adirondack.

"When she ran in the Adirondack she got into some trouble and got stopped pretty good at the eighth-pole," said Gullo. "She came out of that one well, but I ran her back a little too quick after that. I think we've got a fresh horse now. She's doing really well."

Bred in the Empire State by Golden Goose Enterprises, Big Q is out of the Forestry broodmare Gaby Q. She will emerge from the outside post under jockey Jose Lezcano.

Jim and Susan Hill's Playtone bested her state-bred counterpart in her third career start over the Belmont Park main track sprinting six furlongs on October 19. The Tonalist bay, with Manny Franco up, broke sharp and drew off to win by six lengths for trainer George Weaver.

The veteran conditioner said another prominent approach is likely for Playtone.

"She broke real sharp from her inside post and ran really well in her maiden win," Weaver said. "It depends on the other speed in the race, but I would anticipate that we would try and duplicate her best performance."

Bred by New Hill Farm, Playtone was purchased for $150,000 at the Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Franco retains the mount aboard Playtone from post 2.

Returning to the main track after a graded-stakes placing on grass is Time Limit, who enters off of a second-place finish to Alms in the Grade 3 Matron over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, the chestnut daughter of Bustin Stones seeks her first win since a 6 ¼-length triumph in her career debut over Big Sandy on June 23. Since then, she has made four starts against stakes company led by a strong second in the Seeking the Ante when a neck back of Fierce Lady.

Trained by Mike Maker, Time Limit will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano from post 3.

Completing the field are All Over the Map [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], My Sassy Sarah (post 4, Joel Rosario), Shadolamo [post 5, Rajiv Maragh], and Single Verse [post 6, Dylan Davis].

The Key Cents is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post is 12 p.m. Eastern.