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With the Angels remains unbeaten in $100K Key Cents

by Christian Abdo

With the Angels improved her record to 4-for-4 when leading a Linda Rice-trained exacta in Sunday’s $100,000 Key Cents, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford H. Robbins, With the Angels earned her third consecutive state-bred stakes score here, adding to the seven-furlong Joseph A. Gimma in September and one-mile Maid of the Mist last-out on October 27.

The Omaha Beach dark bay came from off the pace for the first time in Saturday’s two-length victory over stablemate Nina Kay. With the Angels led at each call of her prior three outings.

“She was a little wide coming down the stretch, but I was happy to see her run [them] down. It really helps us going forward next year, and we know she’ll do that,” said Rice. “It’s a great way to cap off her 2-year-old season, so we’ll send her home and give her a couple months off.”

Under regular rider Jose Ortiz, With the Angels exited the inside post and settled in midpack off the pace set by D’s a Rock, who was pressured down the backside by Bellacose through an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds on the fast main track.

With the Angels traveled inside in fourth position entering the far turn while Ortiz searched for a way out. With the Angels was piloted around the retreating Bellacose in the turn with her sights set on the front trio of D’s a Rock, Stone Smuggler and Bam’s Bliss Kiss as the half-mile elapsed in 45.92.

“We knew that we were probably going to have to rate her today from the one hole if we don’t out-break them, and we didn’t,” said Ortiz. “So we had to go to that plan and it worked out. She is a nice filly.”

Ortiz tipped With the Angels out heading into the stretch with the Jose Lezcano-piloted Nina Kay following suit from last. After five-eighths in 58.18, With the Angels still had three rivals to catch with Stone Smuggler taking the lead.

Stone Smuggler’s lead would not last for long as With the Angels surged past en route to a two-length victory over the rallying Nina Kay in a final time of 1:10.56.

Nina Kay, who was bumped at the break, claimed place-honors by a half-length over Stone Smuggler, with Bam’s Bliss Kiss rounding out the superfecta. D’s a Rock, Valtellina, Bellacose and Phoebeinwonderland completed the order of finish.

Shoot It True, who won yesterday’s $100,000 Notebook versus New York-bred males for trainer Wesley Ward, was scratched.

Rice said she knew With the Angels would likely have to employ new tactics.

“I told Jose the one hole kind of wasn’t ideal, and I anticipated a lot of speed in this race and that it was probable we’d want to take the opportunity to sit off of it and see how she handled that,” said Rice.

Rice added she believes With the Angels will be a competitive open-company stakes horse at distances from six furlongs to one-mile next season.

“The Bouwerie, the Test, the Victory Ride – those are places we want to go. I think keeping her from six to a mile, six and a half or seven might be her sweet spot – who knows. We’ll find out in the long run,” said Rice. “I would say we’ll probably keep her a one-turn six-to-a-mile this coming season unless we start to see other things.”

Lezcano said Nina Kay, a last-out debut winner on September 28 here, was game in defeat.

“She gave me a good race. She is a nice filly. I think she will improve after the race. She got beat by a nice filly,” said Lezcano. “I think more distance will be helpful, too. She stumbled a little bit out of the gate, but like I said, next time will be better.”

Bred by Joseph DeRico, With the Angels, out of the winning Pulpit mare Sister Margaret, was a $350,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Her second dam is multiple stakes-winning New York-bred Dance Gal Dance. She banked $55,000 in victory while returning $2.70 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack with an eight-race card. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.