Aqueduct: Kentucky Oaks favorite R Heat Lightning will train in New York

Joining Uncle Mo on the flight from south Florida were several of his stablemates, including Gulfstream Oaks winner R Heat Lightning, who will train for a few weeks at Belmont before moving on to Louisville, where she will likely start as the favorite for the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks on May 6.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Hector Ramos, the same exercise rider who gets on Uncle Mo, also gets on R Heat Lightning and he wanted to keep that continuity. Pletcher also said he wanted R Heat Lightning to be with him.

Other Pletcher runners arriving on Wednesday were Christmas for Liam and Caixa Eletronica (both for the Westchester), Rule (Charles Town Classic), and Cal Nation (Jerome).

Saint Daimon vs. Who’s the Cowboy round 3

Saint Daimon and Who’s the Cowboy meet for the third time in four weeks when they head Friday’s optional claiming feature going six furlongs over the main track.

Though written as a third-level allowance, all five horses entered are in for the optional claiming price of $35,000.

Two starts back, on March 11, Saint Daimon came from just off the pace to defeated Who’s the Cowboy by 1 3/4 lengths. Twelve days later, on March 23, Who’s the Cowboy, slipped through on the inside to run down Saint Daimon by one-half length.

“It looked like he was going by those two horses in front of him and then Who’s the Cowboy slipped through the inside and surprised him a little bit,’’ said Steve Jerkens, trainer of Saint Daimon.

The move to the main track may favor Saint Daimon, who is 2 for 3 over the main while Who’s the Cowboy finished sixth in his lone start.

Hewitts, who won for $75,000 two starts back, finished fourth in a $50,000 claimer last out. Now he takes another drop. New Adventure and No Questions complete the field.

Subway station closes Sunday

Saturday will be the last day patrons will be able to utilize the Aqueduct subway station before it undergoes renovation.

Starting Sunday, subway patrons will have to uitilize the North Conduit station for arrival and departures. The New York Racing Association will offer shuttle service.

The ramp that leads from the subway station to the Big A is set to undergo demolition starting Monday as part of a renovation that will include an enclosed pedestrian walkway from the station directly into the building that will coincide with the later summer opening of the Resorts World New York casino.