Coglianese / NYRA Photo Photo

Niko's Dream stands tall in NYSSS Statue of Liberty

by NYRA Press Office

Sackatoga Stable's Niko's Dream will look to turn the tables on Kid Is Frosty in Wednesday's $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series Statue of Liberty division, a one-mile circuit of the inner turf for 3-year-old daughters of eligible New York stallions at Saratoga Race Course.

Last out, Niko's Dream demonstrated a furious turn of foot late in the lane to miss by a neck to Kid Is Frosty in the NYSSS Cupecoy's Joy, a seven-furlong turf test on June 23 at Belmont Park.

On Wednesday, Niko's Dream will have an extra furlong to her advantage on the Saratoga inner turf and trainer Barclay Tagg said he expects a similar late brush.

"There's no big secrets, that's the way she likes to run - just come from nowhere and come flying down the stretch. Get her out of the pack and out onto her own, she loves that," said Tagg.

Bred in New York by Nick Peros, the chestnut daughter of Central Banker has made all seven of her starts on turf and owns a consistent record of 1-3-1. She graduated on May 19 with her usual late rush to earn a half-length score in a one-mile maiden tilt at Belmont.

"She handles the grass well and has run a couple of good races that way, so we left it that way," said Tagg. "She's a big, strong-willed filly and when you're training them, you just have to work along with them."

Niko's Dream, who finished a closing fourth in her August 27 debut at the Spa, will retain the services of Junior Alvarado from post 7.

Kid Is Frosty, a Bad Boy Racing homebred daughter of Frost Giant bred in the Empire State, made her turf debut a winning one in the Cupecoy's Joy, stalking the pace of longshot Parton from second position before surging to the lead at the stretch call, with enough in reserve to stay off Niko's Dream.

The Brad Cox trainee boasts a record of 2-4-2 from eight starts and will be piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 5.

Gabe Grossberg's Subsidiary, a chestnut daughter of Central Banker bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, graduated at first asking at Woodbine on June 2 in a 4 ½-furlong Tapeta sprint. On May 2, Subsidiary, trained by Mark Casse, captured an off-the-turf claiming sprint at Gulfstream Park ahead of a good fourth in an optional-claiming tilt at the Hallandale Beach oval, where she showed early speed.

She finished third last out on June 16 in an optional-claiming event contested on a sloppy Gulfstream surface and will return to the grass for new pilot Joel Rosario from post 4.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' main-track only contender Newly Minted went undefeated in her first three career starts, all on the main track, including wins in the NYSSS Park Avenue at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Bouwerie at Belmont.

Trained by Linda Rice, and bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman, Newly Minted took an awkward step from the gate in the Cupecoy's Joy in her turf debut and held third position throughout.

Jose Lezcano, aboard for all four career starts, retains the mount from post 8 should the Statue of Liberty come off the turf.

Completing the field are Dancing Slippers [Dylan Davis, post 1], Sterling Beauty, [Jose Ortiz, post 2], Rossellini [Luis Saez, post 3], and Bangle Gal [Manny Franco, post 6].

The NYSSS Statue of Liberty is slated as Race 4 on Wednesday's 10-race card, which also includes the $100,000 Shine Again in Race 9. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.