2-year-olds add spice to Friday card
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Friday card at Aqueduct has a first-level allowance slotted as the race 8 feature, but a sequence of three races for 2-year-olds in races 2-4 trump it as the highlight of the day.
The three-race series forms the middle of the pick five on races 1-5 and is linked by a pick three on the second through fourth races.
Race 2
This maiden race for 2-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards looks like it could have been run during one of the more prestigious New York Racing Association meets of the year. It matches some expensive bloodstock trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher, and Bill Mott.
Net Gain, a son of Include, will be making his third start, all for Mott, and may be the one to beat. He will be getting Lasix for the first time and adds blinkers as he tries two turns.
Race 3
This six-furlong starter race is for 2-year-old fillies who have started for a $50,000 claiming price or less and have never won two races. Trainer Donald Barr makes a rare trip up from Maryland with Mondor. Barr last ran a horse in New York on Jan. 14, when Jump Two won a $40,000 starter race.
Mondor romped by 10 1/2 lengths in her career debut for a $40,000 claiming tag at Laurel. She came back to finish second by a nose in a restricted stakes at Parx. The winner of that race, Miss Bullistic, is 3 for 6 and a two-time stakes winner. She would be favored in this race.
FORMULATOR FACT: Barr is 6 for 19 (32 percent), with a return on investment of $4.31, with his 2-year-olds this year.
Race 4
This race is for New York-breds at six furlongs. The top two players look to be Global Positioning and Andrew’s Got Zip, each of whom was clearly second-best in his last start.
Global Positioning, trained by Mike Hushion, was second in his debut to the front-running first-timer Possilicious, who looked good in scoring by 3 1/2 lengths. Global Positioning should be tough to deny here.
Andrew’s Got Zip, trained by Rich Schosberg, was run down last time out by Masons Dream after making the lead. Masons Dream was making his third start after finishing second in his first two outings.