Acoustic Ave looks fastest in Aspirant Stakes

Acoustic Ave’s road has led from one of the most prominent breeding programs in New York, to a sale in Florida, to racing in Saratoga over the summer. He now treks westward across the state for the $97,854 Aspirant Stakes on Monday at Finger Lakes.

The Aspirant for New York-bred males and its sister race on Monday’s card, the $97,725 Lady Finger Stakes for juvenile fillies, are the local preps for the $200,000 New York Breeders Futurity on Oct. 17 at Finger Lakes. The winners of both of Monday’s stakes receive a free entry to the Futurity.

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Acoustic Ave, by Maclean’s Music, was bred by Chester and Mary Broman, perennial leading breeders in New York. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing bought the colt in April for $200,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s spring sale, a fine figure for a New York-bred in a Florida sale.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing has made major investments in the New York-bred program in recent years.

“We really are enjoying the New York program,” Dean Reeves said while shopping this past summer’s Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale. “We target New York-breds specifically. We have been successful and are enjoying it. . . . The incentives in the New York program, getting a lot of the money back out quickly here in New York, is a big deal for us.”

Trained by Christophe Clement, Acoustic Ave debuted July 29 with a front-running 7 1/4-length score against statebreds at Saratoga. He was geared down at the end by regular rider Manny Franco, who keeps the call Monday. The colt then stepped into statebred stakes in the Funny Cide on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Hustled at the start, he never made the lead and finished third to the Grade 3-placed Andiamo a Firenze, who won by 5 1/2 lengths, and Saratoga maiden winner Donegal Surges. Acoustic Ave has earned Beyer Speed Figures of 64 and 61 in his two outings, easily the best in this field.

Acoustic Ave is drawn in post 4 in the five-horse field for the 5 1/2-furlong Aspirant. He may have the most early speed in the field.

The next-highest Beyer in the Aspirant field is the 51 belonging to the maiden Gold in Them Hills, trained at Finger Lakes by Ralph D’Alessandro. He was second by seven lengths Aug. 23 at Finger Lakes in his only start. Gold in them Hills was flattered when third-place finisher, Mo Trump, another Aspirant entrant, came back to win next out. Gold in Them Hills stalked in second throughout the maiden race, and figures to assume a similar position Monday just outside Acoustic Ave in post 5.

The field is completed by the maiden Tiz Lucky, who was fourth in Mo Trump’s debut win, and the first-time starter Dynamic Storm.

The six fillies in the 5 1/2-furlong Lady Finger are all stepping into stakes company for the first time. The field is led by impressive Finger Lakes maiden winners Warsaichi and Isabel Luvs Gold. Each went wire to wire in her second start. Warsaichi rolled by 7 1/2 lengths on Sept. 5, earning a 64 Beyer. Isabel Luvs Gold won by five on Aug. 8 with a 44.

Womanonthewarpath was a Louisiana Downs maiden winner Aug. 15 with a 54 Beyer and could give the locals pressure on the front end. Ruler of the Night, Striking Melody, and Super Slide, each unplaced in her lone start, complete the field.

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