OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Set to make the third start of her career, Katniss the Victor will look to begin her journey towards a starting position in the Kentucky Oaks for owners Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Michael Imperio, headlining the 37th running of the $125,000 Busher for 3-years-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Aqueduct winter meet leading trainer Rudy Rodriguez, the daughter of Midnight Lute won her debut at the Busher distance on December 16 over the Big A inner track by 2 ¼ lengths. She followed in her next start on January 31 at Aqueduct, making her stakes debut in the Maddie May where she traveled three-wide most of the way before closing fast to just miss the wire by a nose.
Set to depart from Post Position 2 as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, Katniss the Victor will be ridden by Aaron Gryder.
Flora Dora, who enters for owners Coffeepot Stables and trainer Marialice Coffey, most recently won the Busanda on January 31 by a length defeating fellow entrants Lost Raven, Dreams to Reality, and Arch Or Nothing. A daughter of First Dude, she has two wins from five career starts in addition to a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Tempted at the Big A last November and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on November 28.
Drawing the outermost post 7, Flora Dora will depart with rider Cornelio Velasquez aboard as the 5-2 morning-line second choice.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will enter a pair of Uncle Mo daughters in Lost Raven for owner-breeder Mike Repole and Mo d'Amour for King of Prussia Stable. Lost Raven, will look to bounce back from a third-place finish in the Busanda where she led most of the way before weakening in the stretch. At 4-1 on the morning-line, she will depart from the rail with Manuel Franco aboard.
Mo d'Amour, who has two wins from four lifetime starts, enters off an impressive 4 ¼ length optional-claiming victory on February 6 at Laurel Park. Mo d'Amour, 5-1 on the morning line, will leave from post 5 and will be ridden by Chris DeCarlo.
Rounding out the field are Dreams to Reality for trainer Michael Digler, who last out finished fourth in the Busanda; Arch Or Nothing for trainer Edmund Pringle, and recent maiden winner Whistling Straits for trainer John Servis and Main Line Racing Stable.
Katniss the Victor headlines Busher
December 10, 2019