Alex M. Robb: Barese searching for a win against red-hot Dr. Blute

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Barese will try to end the year the way he started it while Dr. Blute will try to continue his newfound success when the two square off in Saturday’s $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

The Robb and the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes, for New York-bred females, are two of four stakes on a 10-race program that includes a pair of $500,000 New York Stallion Stakes races for juveniles. First post is 11:50 a.m.

Barese, a 3-year-old son of Laoban trained by Mike Maker, began the year with victories in the Rego Park and Gander, both one-turn stakes restricted to New York-bred 3-year-olds. Barese tried graded races such as the Wood Memorial (fifth) and Ohio Derby (fourth) before winning the New York Derby for statebreds by four lengths at Finger Lakes.

Barese was beaten in both the Albany and Empire Classic, both for New York-breds, before suffering a nose defeat to Eloquist in the $150,000 Discovery here on Nov. 27. Barese seemed poised to go by Eloquist, but ultimately lost a head bob at the wire.

“He ran a winning race, he just didn’t get paid for it,” Maker said.

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The Robb, run at 1 1/8 miles since the closure of Aqueduct’s inner track in 2018, has been shortened to a one-turn mile for Saturday’s edition. Maker at this point doesn’t think the distance or configuration is important to Barese.

“If you had asked me a couple of months ago I would have said one turn,” Maker said. “Right now, he’s run pretty well at a mile and an eighth so I don’t think it matters. He was always an attractive horse, he’s matured, muscled up and looks fabulous.

Manny Franco will ride Barese from post 5.

Maker also sends out Somelikeithotbrown, generally a turf horse, who won the off-the-turf West Point at Saratoga and was second in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Dec. 4.

Dr. Blute, a 4-year-old gelding by Not This Time, has run three consecutive solid races for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., including a front-running score in the $250,000 Empire Classic. While the Empire Classic was run at 1 1/8 miles, Dr. Blute’s two previous starts – a close second followed by an allowance win – came at a one-turn mile.

“Stretching out has been the key,” Joseph said. “We were going to bring him to Florida after the last one, but talking with the owner, Sean Flanagan, we decided to stay for this race and come home after. He’s proven at one turn and has the extra kick if he needs it.”

Dr. Blute breaks from the outside under Edgard Zayas.

Sea Foam, a 7-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro, won this race last year on the front end. He is 0 for 3 this year, including a fourth-place finish to Dr. Blute in the Empire Classic.

Trainer Michelle Giangiulio is adding blinkers to Sea Foam’s equipment in this, the gelding’s 30th start.

Market Alert, Three Jokers, Perfect Munnings, and Wudda U Think Now complete the field.

Bay Ridge Stakes

Let Her Inspire U looks to put the cap on a highly successful 4-year-old season when she meets five rivals in the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-bred females going a one-turn mile.

Let Her Inspire U, a daughter of Practical Joke, has won four of five starts this year, including the Empire Distaff, which she won by 2 1/4 lengths. Her lone defeat this year came to Fingal’s Cave in the Fleet Indian Stakes.

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“She’s a pretty handy filly, she’ll do whatever you ask,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “She’s consistently breezing well in the mornings. She gives us every indication she’ll run well.”

Let Her Inspire U should benefit from her outside draw as there appears to be plenty of speed in the field. Jose Lezcano rides.

Know It All Audrey, claimed for $16,000 by Oscar Barrera III in September, enters off two straight victories, including a front-running score in a first-level statebred allowance. Though most of her recent success has come on Lasix, she did win a maiden race in February without the anti-bleeding medication.

Javier Castellano rides Know It All Audrey from post 3.

Spungie was supplemented to the field by owner Diane Manning and trainer Bill Mott. Primarily a turf horse, she won an off-the-turf maiden race by 6 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park in April 2021.

With only six runners, the Bay Ridge goes as race 3 on the card.

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