Enjoy your day at Big A.
Led by GI Cigar Mile H. and three other classified events, Aqueduct’s 10 loaded race cards will be in the spotlight in South Ozone Park on Saturday.
Zandon (start), GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner and third-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby this spring, shortened the distance by a mile for Chad Brown in this feature. Dark Bay, favored at even money on the Cigar Mile morning route, is also third in HOLD Runhappy Travers S. and finished second in the last GI Pennsylvania Derby on September 24.
Second year student wins first prize White Abarrio (Race date) will also be shortened here. He fatigued down to fifth after setting pace in the Pennsylvania Derby last time around. The handsome gray shot Saffie Joseph, Jr.’s Gulfstream Park base. For this.
Two-time 1st place winner Mind control (Stay Thirsty), the broadest drawn of all in post seven (he will move into a position with O Besos scratch), will look to end his career on top. 2018 GI Hopeful S. winner and 2019 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. winner were moved up to first place by disqualification after falling short on Parx Dirt Mile S’s near-term renewal. took place on September 24. 6-year-old boasts a 7-4-2-1 record at the Aqueduct, including a three-match winning streak. According to Rick Sacco, race manager for the Red Oak Stable co-owner, a deal for Mind Control is likely to be finalized in the days following the Cigar Mile.
“He was a great horse for us and had accomplished a lot before he came to us, but he really is a neat horse to be around,” said the coach. Hall of Fame, Todd Pletcher, who is looking for a record-long sixth Cigar Mile win. “He loves his job and has always liked Aqueduct.”
Teenagers, meanwhile, will take center stage in the GII Remsen S. and GII Demoiselle S., both at the claimed 1 1/8 mile distance.
Stonestreet hybrid house Julia shines (make for curly), the sister of champion Malathaat, the chubby 3-year-old and the winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, will go straight to the deep against six competitors in Demoiselle. Bay kicked off her career with an eye-catching win from behind for Pletcher after seven runs at Keeneland on October 16. She was the 3-5 morning favorite for Demoiselle. Malathaat, also coached by Pletcher, won the same race in 2020.
“Physically, they’re a little bit different, but they’re both very impressive girls when it comes to training and she showed talent from the start,” says Pletcher. “I always felt that the further she got the chance to go, the better she would become. That’s why we pointed out Demoiselle.”
A field of seven will also line up for Remsen, led by undefeated Rocky Run S. winner Tuskegee pilot (street feeling) and hybrid New York Arctic Pride (blur), the ultimate winner of Sleepy Hollow S.
The Aqueduct Saturday program also includes GIII Go For Wand S. for older mares and mares.
Welcome to Hollywood
A very deep school of 11 people participated in the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. Shippers in New York ‘Rising Star’ Wit (Realistic jokes) and celestial city (Uncle Mo) are the two heads on the morning line. The slightly favored Wit was shot in the neck by Pletcher in Keeneland’s GIII Bryan Station on October 29. Celestial City won from behind for Shug McGaughey in Aqueduct’s GII Hill Prince on October 22.
The Hollywood Derby School also includes: GIII winner La Jolla S. and GII Twilight Derby winner Cabo’s spirit (Pioneer of the Nile); Cinema S. winner war at sea (War front); and Let It Ride S winner. Handy Dandy (Kapcori’s Rage).
Del Mar’s seventh card also includes an extensive innovation of GIII Jimmy Durante S. grass for 2-year-olds.
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged aqueduct, big A, celestial city, Cigar mile H., make for curly, Del Mar, Demoiselle S., Hollywood match, Jimmy Durant S., Julia shines, Malathaat, Mind control, Remsen WILL, Shug McGaughey, Todd Pletcher, start, Craftiness, Zandon.
