OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Her ability to be successful from off the pace may give Nilo’s Rose a slight edge in a seemingly evenly matched group of 3-year-old fillies entered to run 6 1/2 furlongs in a starter allowance that serves as the featured event on Wednesday’s eight-race New Year’s Day program at Aqueduct. On Sept. 28, Nilo’s Rose finished second to a pace-pressing Shadyside, who got the jump on Nilo’s Rose turning for home and won by 1 1/2 lengths. On Oct. 31, in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden $40,000 claiming event, Nilo’s Rose came from off the pace to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a race that produced two next-out winners from four horses to have run back. “I think she’s going to be better going long, but I didn’t want to wait and if the starter [allowance race] going a mile doesn’t go, then I’ll be sitting on her for a long period of time,” trainer Robert Falcone Jr. said. “She’s ready to run now. She’s obviously sprinted before and was fine.” :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Manny Franco, who rode Nilo’s Rose in both of her starts, stays aboard Wednesday. That is somewhat noteworthy because he also rode Take Me to Londyn and Backwater – both of whom are in this field – to maiden victories in their most recent starts. Shadyside was a second-time starter when she beat Nilo’s Rose in the slop here Sept. 28. In her first start against winners Dec. 1, Shadyside finished third behind odds-on favorite Broadway Lights, with Vehemente finishing second. Kendrick Carmouche rides Shadyside, trained by John Kimmel, from the outside post in this eight-horse field. Vehemente will be making her fifth career start in this spot. At Saratoga, Vehemente had the misfortune of running against two buzzsaws in Bellacose, who won a July 17 race by 10 3/4 lengths, and With the Angels, who won a maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths on Aug. 22. In both of those races, Vehemente was very green with her lead changes, ducking and diving all over the place in the stretch. Dropped into a maiden $40,000 claimer on Nov. 9 by trainer Joe Sharp, Vehemente romped to a 10 3/4-length victory at Aqueduct, though again was late to change her leads. In her first start in this condition, she finished second, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Broadway Lights. “She got in a little bit of trouble,” said Lorita Lindemann, an assistant to Sharp. “I prefer the filly on the outside, and she drew the one hole. Hopefully, she can get off the rail.” Both Vehemente and Nilo’s Rose will be racing on Lasix for the first time. Furry Fox was a 12 1/2-length winner when dropped into a maiden $40,000 claimer with blinkers added by trainer Rick Dutrow. Backwater, after getting beat by 16 1/4 lengths by Vehemente on Nov. 9, came back to win a maiden $40,000 claimer by 5 1/4 lengths here Dec. 13. Parx Racing shipper Delray, trained by Tyler Servis, and Central Casting, trained locally by Rudy Rodriguez, are both coming off convincing wins. Delray won a Parx maiden special weight race with blinkers added Dec. 9. Wednesday’s card is the official start of Aqueduct’s winter meet during which there will be 49 cards of racing through March 31. After this five-day race week, racing will be conducted mostly on a four-day weekly schedule (Thursdays through Sundays) through March 2. There will be racing on Presidents Day (Feb. 17) and a dark day on Feb. 20. From March 7-30, racing will be conducted three days a week (Fridays through Sundays). There will be 20 stakes worth $3.1 million offered during the winter meet. There will be a trio of Kentucky Derby points qualifying races offered, beginning with Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes, followed by the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1, and the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes on March 1. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.