Pletcher looking for another Busher with Fierce Boots
Last year, Princess of Sylmar opened what would be an outstanding 3-year-old campaign for trainer Todd Pletcher with back-to-back victories in the Busanda and Busher stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Saturday, Pletcher is hoping Bobby Flay's Busanda winner Fierce Boots will kickstart her sophomore season in similar style when she takes on eight others in the $100,000 Busher at the Big A.
The 1 1/16-mile Busher will be run as race 7 on the Big A's 10-race card, which also features the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers for 3-year-olds, the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan for sprinters, and the $100,000 Correction for filly and mare sprinters, headed by Delightful Quality and Lion D N A.
A bay daughter of Tiznow out of the Wild Again mare Shop Again, Fierce Boots made four appearances as a 2-year-old, with a maiden victory and a fourth in a seven-furlong optional claimer on the dirt and two off-the-board finishes on the turf. Sent off at 8-1 in the one-mile, 70-yard Busanda on January 4, Fierce Boots found herself alone on the lead through moderate early fractions and went on to score by two lengths over Flipcup.
"We hope to see continued improvement with her," said Pletcher of Fierce Boots. "We were very pleased with her last race and we're hoping to see another effort like that, or see her improve. In the seven-furlong race, she didn't break all that well and Jose [Ortiz] wanted to make sure she got away well. When she did that, she found herself in a favorable spot and Jose ended up riding a clever race."
Pletcher also will saddle My Jimmy Chew Girl, who will be making her first stakes appearance after two maiden races and a pair of starter optional claimers, and first start beyond six furlongs.
"We've always felt like she wants to run further and there have been limited opportunities of the starter sort," he said. "The owner [Twelve Gauge Stables] wanted to try and stretch her out, and if she can improve then maybe we can get a piece of one of these races."
Jose Ortiz returns aboard Fierce Boots, the 122-pound highweight from post position 2 who is listed at 4-1 on the morning line, while Chris DeCarlo has the call on My Jimmy Chew Girl, who drew post position 7 and was tabbed at 20-1 on the morning line.
The 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Busher is Darley Stable's Ballylee, a sparkling winner of her debut over the inner track on December 22. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Ballylee covered the one mile, 70 yards in 1:44.64 as she pulled clear to a 3 ¼-length win over Fade to Black. Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the return call on the Street Cry filly, who drew post position 5.
Making her first start beyond six furlongs is Swilcan Stables' Vero Amore, who was nosed out by Mamdooha at the wire in the Ruthless on January 12 at the Big A. Trained by Butch Reid, the Mineshaft filly had fashioned consecutive victories sprinting at Parx Racing in the fall before her game effort in the six-furlong Ruthless.
"We've always thought this filly was kind of special, and that she would like a distance of ground," said trainer Butch Reid. "She's coming back on short notice, but she came out of her last race bouncing, so this seems like a good spot."
Angel Arroyo will ride Vero Amore, the second choice on the morning line at 5-2, from post position 9.
The Busanda also drew Fleet of Gold and Ketel Twist, third and fourth, respectively, in the Busanda; Joint Return and Fleet Sixteen, first and second in a first-level allowance going a mile at Parx on New Year's Day; and Wraith, who broke her maiden at second asking on January 17 at Aqueduct.