Randomized bids to rebound in Beldame

Two years ago, Randomized entered the Beldame (G2) as a sophomore at the peak of her form, and she dominated her elders in this stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). In Friday’s $250,000 renewal at Aqueduct, the Chad Brown mare hopes to recapture past glories after one of the worst races of her career.

The five-year-old Randomized has been less consistent than the 2023 model. After a grudging third in her reappearance in the May 2 La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs, she faded to fifth in her Ogden Phipps (G1) title defense at a sloppy Saratoga. The Klaravich Stables runner was happier back on a fast track at Monmouth Park for the Molly Pitcher (G3), where she held sway over Majestic Oops.

But in the Personal Ensign (G1) back at the Spa, Randomized might have had a bad case of déjà vu. For the second straight year, in the same race, she was completely spent in a pace war and retreated to a double-digit loss. The Nyquist mare is eligible to get a better scenario in the Beldame, against a short field, and she’s tactically drawn on the outside with Flavien Prat.

Only four rivals have signed on for the Beldame, including the past two winners of the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) in Gun Song and Margie’s Intention. 

Gun Song is perhaps best remembered for pushing eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna to a narrow decision in last fall’s Cotillion (G1). The Mark Hennig trainee concluded her sophomore season with an even closer near-miss in the Mother Goose (G2) at this track and 1 1/8-mile trip. But Gun Song has yet to perform up to that level this year. She, too, is aiming to rebound from a disappointing effort at the Spa, a fourth in the Shuvee (G2).

Margie’s Intention brings more upside for Brad Cox. Since her signature score at Pimlico, the Louisiana-bred has finished runner-up in the Delaware Oaks (G3) and third in the Alabama (G1). The lone three-year-old receives a four-pound weight concession.

Majestic Oops has developed into a graded-stakes caliber operator since joining Dan Ward. Formerly a claimer in her native California, she was racing in Alberta around this time last year, but she’s hit new heights this term. Majestic Oops romped in the Dig a Diamond S. at Oaklawn Park and the Lady’s Secret S. at Monmouth prior to her game try in the Molly Pitcher. Cutting back to one turn for the Aug. 23 Ballerina (G1) was just to give her something to do en route to the Beldame, and she picked up a Grade 1 placing by rallying for third. 

Just Music looks up against it in her graded debut, but she has a solid record at this distance for the high-percentage Linda Rice.

Slated for 4:09 p.m. ET, the Beldame goes as Friday’s seventh race. It’s also an appetizer for the Saturday card that features five graded stakes, led by the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) and Woodward (G2).