Nicole H goes for Interborough three-peat; Arena Elvira tops Ladies

Nicole H looks to make history on New Year's Day at Aqueduct,

where she will attempt to become the first-ever three-time winner of the $75,000

Interborough Stakes.

The Michael Hushion mare is a perfect four-for-four

over the inner track, all in six-furlong stakes, and she enters in sparkling

form. A close second to champion Musical Romance in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney

Handicap over the summer, Nicole H has captured the October 13 Endine at

Delaware and the November 21 Daylily at Penn National in her last pair.

"I don't think Nicole H has lost a step at all," Hushion of the daughter of

Mr. Greeley. "She's got sturdy legs and the mind to go with it. Her last two

races, she was just cruising."

Since 1921, only five other horses have won back-to-back runnings of the

Interborough, including champions Ta Wee (1969-70) and Affectionately (1963-64).

Nicole H, the 123-pound highweight, has been installed as the 4-5 morning-line

favorite in her historic quest for a three-peat.

Seven opponents stand in Nicole H's way, including fellow Aqueduct aficionado Singlet, who comes off a victory in the December 1 Garland of Roses on the main

oval; Mildly Offensive, runner-up in the November 15 Pentelis over

6 1/2 furlongs last out; and Ms. Cruisen', a front-running winner

of the November 20 Cornucopia at Parx.

Singlet is poised for a big effort, according to trainer Tony Dutrow.

"She did so well last winter at Aqueduct we left her up there after the

Garland of Roses," Dutrow said. "She's doing tremendous, and I couldn't be

happier with her. She's got a steep hill to climb in that she'll be facing older

horses for the first time, so she's got a lot to prove. But she is at the top of

her game and she is ready to run her very best race."

The Bill Mott-trained Arena Elvira has been disappointing in her last three.

After finishing third, beaten 11 lengths, in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap in

April at Hawthorne, Arena Elvira went to the sidelines for six months. She was

sixth in her return, the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm in October at Belmont, and most

recently checked in fourth as the defending champion in the Grade 2 Falls

City Handicap on Thanksgiving Day.

"In that first race back off the long layoff, I imagine she needed it,"

assistant trainer Neil Poznansky said of the Ladies' 7-5 morning-line favorite.

"Judging off the way she has been training going into this one, I'm looking

forward to a big effort. I get on her myself and I've been getting on her for a

long time, and she's as good as I've ever seen her. I'd be surprised if she

doesn't run well."

R Gypsy Gold has likewise failed to factor

over the second half of the season, and the Todd Pletcher trainee exits an even

fourth in the Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap here on November 23.

The 1 1/8-mile

distance is likely to favor Arena Elvira, however, even though she concedes

weight all around as the 120-pound highweight.