Aqueduct Picks | Memories Of Silver Stakes 2024

HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing’s Kentucky homebred Living Magic returns to the Big A in search of her third stakes score in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Memories of Silver Stakes, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

The Memories of Silver is slated as Race 6 on Sunday’s nine-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern. 

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Trained by Phil Schoenthal, the Justify chestnut put an exclamation point on her juvenile campaign with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Chelsey Flower at Aqueduct in October, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juvenile fillies.

She has raced twice as a sophomore, finishing off-the-board last out in the one-mile Grade 2 Appalachian after having to steady late on April 7 over good Keeneland turf. 

“If you watched her last race, she got shut off turning for home and lost all chance. She just couldn’t find a way through when the running started,” said Schoenthal. “We felt like she was going to have an impact in that race. With a clean trip, we felt like she belonged. We are hoping and believing she is a graded stakes caliber horse.” 

Living Magic previously finished third in the one-mile Cincinnati Trophy over the Turfway Park synthetic following a layoff dating to the Chelsey Flower. She was victorious in her first try over synthetic in the 5 1/2-furlong My Dear on July 15 over Woodbine Racetrack’s all-weather surface.  

“She has run well over the various synthetic surfaces, but the grass might be her best surface,” Schoenthal said. “If you are going to go hunting for the graded stakes, you’re going to be on the dirt or grass, there are much fewer opportunities on synthetic.” 

Living Magic, out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Footstepsinthesand mare Living The Life, won first out in a 4 1/2-furlong dirt maiden last May at Parx Racing, before a third in the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria over the Belmont Park main track. 

“She had high expectations when she was born. The owner is the breeder and he had earmarked her to keep and raise for himself, then add to his broodmare band eventually,” Schoenthal said. “When she came in as a two-year-old, she always touted herself as being at the top of the pecking order in the barn and we were excited about her going into her first race.”

Kendrick Carmouche will be aboard from post 5. 

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out two strong debut maiden-winners with Sweet Rebecca [post 2, Tyler Gaffalione] and Miss Mottley [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] in pursuit of a record-extending fourth Memories of Silver triumph.

Resolute Racing’s Sweet Rebecca surged late to win a one-mile Gulfstream Park maiden tilt on March 10 for her former conditioner Brendan Walsh. The American Pharoah chestnut had to check early and was headstrong in the first turn, but able to gather herself to close strongly for a one-length score in a final time of 1:35.60. 

Sweet Rebecca earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure in her impressive debut, and she was acquired by Resolute Racing shortly after. She has recorded weekly works for Brown at the Payson Park Training Center since March 30. 

Sweet Rebecca, out of the Grade 2-placed Discreet Cat mare Sweet N Discreet, is a full-sister to multiple turf graded stakes-winner Sweet Melania. 

First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s Miss Mottley got up late for a half-length score, capturing a one-mile maiden on March 15 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Speightstown chestnut came from three lengths off the pace early, closing powerfully to complete the mile in 1:35.57 and was awarded a 72 Beyer for the effort. 

Out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Kasbach, a half-sister to Group 2-winner Zeffiro, Miss Mottley was a $180,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Her second dam is the multiple group-placed German-bred Wild Wind. 

Robert Evans’ Youknownothing [post 7, Dylan Davis] enters off an improving fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Bourbonette Oaks on March 23 over the Turfway synthetic. Trained by Christophe Clement, the Candy Ride chestnut found herself 8 1/2 lengths back in ninth position after the break before making up ground to finish just two lengths behind the victorious Everland. 

“I think switching back to the turf will be no problem and will be [of benefit]. She ran well last time – moved a touch quick in the turn and tried to [make a run] in the last sixteenth of a mile,” said Clement. “It was a good race and we’ll try again this weekend and hope for the best.”

Youknownothing earned a career-best 78 Beyer for the effort, improving upon a 62 for place-honors in an optional claimer going 1 1/16 miles in January over the Tampa Bay turf. 

Bred in Maryland by 2500 Determined Stud, Youknownothing, the first foal out of the winning Tapit mare Ygritte, was a $600,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Her second dam is multiple graded stakes winner Irish Mission. Ygritte and Irish Mission were also owned by Evans. 

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Most of All [post 6, Jose Lezcano] has tried dirt stakes company three times since graduating at third asking here at Aqueduct ​​by 10 1/4-lengths in an off-the-turf one-turn mile maiden tilt in October. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Quality Road bay was a last out seventh in the local seven-furlong Ruthless in February, after fourths at nine-furlongs in January’s Busanda and December’s Grade 2 Demoiselle- all on the Aqueduct main track.  

Most of All is out of the graded stakes-winning Bernardini mare Indulgent, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner Frosted. 

Rounding out a talented field at Aqueduct are:

• Magic Cap Stables and Hayden Racing’s stakes-placed Munny Grab [post 8, Flavien Prat] for conditioner Horacio De Paz
• Robert LaPenta’s last out maiden winner Faith Understood [post 3, Manny Franco] for trainer Jonathan Thomas
• Team Spoor’s last out maiden winner Curlin’s Girl [post 1, Javier Castellano] for trainer Anthony Dutrow

Camera and Thirteen Red Flags are entered for the main track only.