Rush Country Hits Stride

Rush Country, who broke his maiden last summer at Del Mar, had little success in his next three races, but turned things around when put back on grass. Rallying wide, the 4-year-old Wild Rush bay gelding won by half a length at 18-1 when going a mile on Feb. 17.

Rush Country will shorten up to about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in today’s third, a $62,500 claimer for 4-year-olds.

With Victor Espinoza in Dubai for Saturday’s World Cup, Rene Douglas will ride in the field of nine. Rush Country is 6-1 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line.

Spencer’s Magic, who has won two of five over the Santa Anita grass, is the 3-1 choice.

Race of the day: Saintliness, unbeaten in five starts, will make her debut in a graded stakes against eight other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Next Move Handicap at Aqueduct. Richard Migliore will ride the 5-year-old daughter of Holy Bull for owner Frank Stronach and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in the Grade III at 1 1/8 miles. The morning line favorite is Daydreaming, who has won six of 12 races for trainer Shug McGaughey.

One for the road: Top Ingredients has never been better and trainer Ricardo Perez is wheeling her right back a week after she won her second in a row at Bay Meadows. Adalberto Lopez will be on again as the 5-year-old Half A Year mare steps up a notch in today’s sixth. She showed a week ago she can handle a wet track when winning by nine lengths against $12,500 claimers and could be a single in the pick four in the $16,000 claimer at one mile.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Crystal House and Single Market in the sixth, Tangmalangaloo, Flying General and Black Horse Money in the seventh and Dynout, Newton John and Customer in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/166. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12.60/$891.40. Total money bet: $1,114.