NYRA announced a compact field of five for Friday’s GII Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct, headlined by Klaravich Stables’ Randomized (Nyquist).
The 5-year-old mare seeks redemption after finishing sixth behind Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Personal Ensign at Saratoga on August 23. Randomized drew the outside post and will attempt to recapture her wire-to-wire form from the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes on July 19, where she finished three lengths ahead of fellow Beldame contender Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor).
Majestic Oops, trained by Dan Ward, enters off a third-place finish at long odds in the GI Ballerina Stakes on August 23, where she successfully cut back to seven furlongs.
“The Molly Pitcher was a tough test, a half-million dollar race against some Grade I-winning horses, and she ran really well,” Ward said. “We were going to wait out the time until the Beldame, but the Ballerina was right in the middle and she got a good race that served its purpose. It was seven-eighths, between races, with five weeks until the Beldame.”
Ward believes the cooler autumn conditions at Aqueduct are benefiting his charge.
“She wasn’t bothered by hot weather, but I think now that it is cooler outside, she’s doing better,” he noted. “She comes off the track bouncing, jumping, all of that. I think cooler weather will help her form, her numbers have been going up and we got a good sprint prep right in the middle now.”
Mark Hennig will saddle Lewis Lee’s Gun Song (Gun Runner), a 4-year-old still seeking her first victory of 2025. Her campaign includes a runner-up finish in the Obeah Stakes at Delaware and a fourth-place effort in the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga on July 18.
“She’s doing super,” Hennig said. “After that race at Saratoga, we figured we would regroup and point to a race in September. We are giving her a shot. Let’s see if she can earn her way somewhere. At a mile and an eighth, you know she can lay fairly close.”
Rounding out the field is the sole 3-year-old entrant, Margie’s Intention (Honor A.P.), trained by Brad Cox. She most recently finished third behind Nitrogen (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Alabama Stakes going 1¼ miles on August 16. The filly’s last victory came in the GII Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 16 during Preakness weekend.
