Aruna to atone for her back to back defeats in the Sheepshead Bay Stakes
Owned by Flaxman Holdings Ltd. - Flaxman Stable, and bred by Flaxman Stable, 5-year-old mare, Aruna, has been coming off two of the worst starts of her career thus far, and trainer Graham Motion has trusted her to get back on winning ways, when he entered
the Kentucky bred mare in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes.
The 1 3/8 mile race has reeled in a massive field of 10, 3-year-olds and above fillies and mares to contest on the inner course of the Belmont Park on 26 May, 2012.
The Mr. Greeley mare, Aruna, will be sent as the 3 to 1 choice at the morning line along with, Hit it Rich at 7 to 2, and both fillies will carry top weight of 120 pounds.
With showers to pummel down at Belmont Park on 26 May, the race might shift to the main track, and for that four other females have been entered if such a change occurs.
Last year, Aruna was on top of her game as she bagged the Grade 3 All Along Stakes at about 1 1/8 miles over the Colonial Downs turf course, defeating Dyna Waltz and Apple Charlotte, who finished second and third, respectively, while Aruna wrapped up the
race in 1 minute and 49.21 seconds.
Out of Unbridled mare Surya, Aruna triumphed at Keeneland, when she raced in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes over the synthetic surface at about 1 1/8 miles.
Ramon Dominguez guided Aruna to defeat, Pachattack, who was a constant threat to her on the day.
Aruna didn’t handle the Churchill Downs track that well, but after a troubled trip, made up for the lost ground and finished fifth, one length behind the winner, Perfect Shirl.
“She handled the distance in the Breeders’ Cup but had an unlucky trip, and (longer races) are the direction we’re probably going to end up going,” said Motion.
Though, Aruna could never come to grips with the Keeneland turf as well, where she finished sixth in the 1 1/16 mile Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes.
“Her first race was paceless and where she finished wasn’t a sign of how she was doing,” said Motion. “I’m not going to hold it against her. She was plenty fit, but she was taken out of her element.”
Tags: