2019 Distaff Handicap Entries & Odds at Aqueduct

Come Dancing headlines a nine-horse field in the 64th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at seven furlongs on Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Come Dancing, a 5-year-old homebred daughter of Malibu Moon, has four wins from eight career starts. After winning her debut in November 2016 at Aqueduct, she went on to capture an allowance race in her second start 13 months later before finishing tenth in the 2018 Interborough in her 4-year-old bow.

Returning in July to win an optional claiming race at Saratoga Race Course, she returned to stakes company eight days later, finishing fourth in the Shine Again. Come Dance rebounded to win the Royal Delta by 6 ¼ lengths on September 9.

The Carlos Martin trainee ran fifth in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational on October 6 at Belmont Park. Last out, a second-place effort in the Grade 3 Go for Wand, Come Dancing, sent off at 9-1 odds, stalked the pace and battled late, losing by a neck to multiple graded-stakes winner Marley's Freedom.

"She's really coming into this race great," Martin said. "We sent her down to Ocala Stud [Ocala, Florida] following the Go for Wand for 45-50 days. It's where she's spent time since she was a 2-year-old. They always take care our horses. I got her back about a month ago. She had some light works down there and she came back here in great condition."

Breezing five furlongs in one-minute flat Saturday morning on the Belmont training track, Martin said he is excited for Come Dancing's prospects on Friday.

"Her work yesterday really gave me the confidence to enter," Martin said. "The way she galloped out was great and although she may not be cranked 110 percent, it doesn't take a lot for her to get fit and she's ready."

Come Dancing will depart from post 5 with Manny Franco aboard.

Trainer Linda Rice, fresh off winning the Aqueduct winter meet for her first NYRA training title since 2017, will look to keep the momentum going through the Aqueduct spring. That endeavor starts with three entries in the Distaff: Holiday Disguise, Startwithsilver and Split Time.

Holiday Disguise, a 5-year-old New York-bred Harlan's Holiday mare for owner Lady Shelia Stable, won last year's Distaff and began her 2019 campaign winning the Broadway by 4 ½ lengths on February 16 at Aqueduct.

Rice said Holiday Disguise, a perfect 3-for-3 at the distance with four wins from five starts at Aqueduct, was always pointed for this race.

"We had this race in mind for Holiday Disguise for a while," Rice said. "She came out of the Broadway in good shape - where we were proud of her effort - and has trained forwardly since."

Startwithsilver, a 6-year-old Jump Start mare is also owned by Lady Shelia Stable and Iris Smith Stable, will be looking for her second straight win after a victory by neck last out in the Correction on March 16 at Aqueduct.

Split Time, a 4-year-old out of Take Charge Indy, will look to improve off a second-place finish in the Heavenly Prize on March 10.

"Taking a look the extended weather forecast, we also entered Startwithsilver and Split Time with the chance of rain," said Rice. "They both tend to perform well on off tracks so we'll watch the weather and decide if they'll run as well."

Holiday Disguise will leave from post 2 with Jose Lezcano in the irons. Startwithsilver drew post 4 with Eric Cancel up, while Split Time will depart from the rail with Rajiv Maragh.

Stonestreet Stables' Dawn the Destroyer will look to capture her first graded stakes win in the Distaff entering off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 16 at Laurel Park.

The 5-year-old Speightstown homebred has two wins from three starts at the Big A including a win in the Interborough on January 25 and has two wins from six starts at the distance, with one second and a third-place finish.

Dawn the Destroyer will leave from post 9 with Junior Alvarado aboard.

Also entered is Kathryn the Wise for owner Lawrence Goichman and trainer Chad Brown; Pacific Gale for trainer John Kimmel and owner Tobey Morton; Rosyjersey for Dormellito Stud and trainer Susan Ouellette; and Yorkiepoo Princess for trainer Eddie Barker and owner Danny Chen.