Pletcher Has 9-5 Favorite Alto Belle in Busanda

Seven 3-year-old fillies will look to enhance their resumes around two turns on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, weather permitting, in the 43^rd running of the $100,000 Busanda at one mile and 70 yards.

 

Also Saturday, fans who purchase a racing publication will receive a knit hat with the Aqueduct logo and a pair of smart gloves, while supplies last. First race post time is 12:20 p.m., with the Busanda scheduled as the third race.

 

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the past three editions of the Busanda with Overprepared, Fierce Boots and Princess of Sylmar, will be represented by 9-5 morning-line favorite Alto Belle, who when last seen rolled to an eye-popping 18 ½-length maiden victory on November 20 at the Big A.

 

The bay daughter of Trappe Shot, out of the Tiznow mare Katy Now, had finished second in her September debut in the mud in an off-the-turf event, and next was sixth going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, both at Belmont Park, and all with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard.

 

Although she has not raced in 60 days, Alto Belle has had a series of half-mile works, most recently going the distance in 50.22 seconds on January 15 over Belmont's training track. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will replace Velazquez with the duo leaving from post position 5.

 

Flora Dora has one victory to her credit, but it was an impressive one as she came from far back to take the My Dear Girl in October at Gulfstream Park. The First Dude filly subsequently ran second to Big World in the Grade 3 Tempted and fourth, beaten three lengths by winner Lewis Bay in the Grade 2 Demoiselle.

 

Trained by Marialice Coffey, Flora Dore will leave from the rail with Aqueduct's leading rider, Jose Ortiz, aboard. She is listed at 2-1 on the morning line.

 

The Leah Gyarmati-trained Scatoosh apparently found the inner track to her liking, breaking her maiden on January 1 going 1 1/16 miles on his sixth career start. Previously, the Scat Daddy miss collected three straight second-place finishes and two sixth-place finishes, both on the turf and in off the turf events.

 

Kendrick Carmouche will ride Scatoosh, 3-1 on the morning line, from post position 4.

 

Rounding out the field are recent maiden winners Arch or Nothing, Dreams to Reality and Kentucky Road, as well as She's So Fine, third in her lone start.