In a vacuum, Stone Creator might be the most talented filly or mare in the featured eighth race Friday at Aqueduct. Races are not run in a vacuum, and while Stone Creator is sure to take betting, this New York-bred allowance might not be quite the right spot. Stone Creator hasn’t run since April. To be sure, layoffs of several months generally are viewed too negatively by bettors. And while Stone Creator shows just three slowish timed workouts for this comeback, two half-miles and a five-eighths, she is more race-fit than the pattern suggests. “She was breezing at a training center in South Carolina, and she had a pretty good bottom on her when she came in,” said Linda Rice, who replaced Stone Creator’s previous trainer during the filly’s time off. Rice also points out that a published half-mile workout from her horses typically includes a strong gallop-out; a timed half-mile can be more like a five-furlong drill. All that said, Stone Creator is not necessarily sitting on go. “She’s probably going to need the race, but maybe she’s fit enough,” Rice said. Stone Creator is stakes-placed over one mile, and her two wins have come at seven furlongs. The 6 1/2 furlongs she runs Friday is on the short side of her effective range. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “I’m looking at it more as a stepping-stone race to stretch her out. There was a mile race for her the day before, but I didn’t think she was fit enough for that,” Rice said. One factor in favor of Stone Creator and everyone else in the field: The Friday feature, for second-level allowance horses or $45,000 claimers, drew just six entrants. One of them, Peak of Chic, ships from Parx Racing owing owner and trainer Michael Moore absolutely nothing. Moore won a two-way shake for Peak of Chic in a $5,000 claiming race on Aug. 30, 2022. Peak of Chic has since compiled a record of 12-7-3-0. Moore said she has earned roughly $170,000 since joining his stable. “She had a little bit of back class to her,” Moore said of the claim. “We were just hoping she’d be okay. She’s turned out great.” Peak of Chic has made hay in starter-allowance races at Parx and Penn National, and won a first-level allowance at Parx. Her only subpar races for Moore came over sloppy tracks, and her only start in New York-bred company came on a muddy track for a different trainer. “I’d prefer three-quarters to 6 1/2, but you can’t have everything,” Moore said. Stone Creator and Peak of Chic will show some early foot Friday, as will Ribot’s Valentine, who does not appear to have a path to victory. Down on the rail, Khali Magic makes her first start after being claimed by trainer Gustavo Rodriguez, 8 for 121 on the year. Tempermental fits off her last two races, both at this class level, a win two back while racing for the $45,000 claiming option and a second last out under the allowance condition. That form, however, is a high-water mark during a 27-start career. Finally, Missing Fortune shouldn’t be overlooked and might wind up the race’s value. Missing Fortune is the first Aqueduct starter for Finger Lakes-based trainer Dana Saul, and she overcame a poor start and ground loss to win her most recent outing. That came at Finger Lakes, but Missing Fortune cleared her first New York-bred condition this summer at Saratoga with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. If she has enough pace in front of her, Missing Fortune could hit the mark. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.