Aqueduct: The Admiral returns to sprinting for Bay Shore

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After The Admiral won a first-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles, trainer Bob Baffert had the option of trying to stretch his 3-year-old out farther in distance in an attempt to jump onto the Triple Crown trail.

But Baffert wasn’t overly impressed with The Admiral’s effort in that March 15 race and instead will shorten the son of Giant’s Causeway in distance by running him seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Bay Shore Stakes.

The Admiral, a half-brother to graded stakes-winning siblings Madcap Escapade and Dubai Escapade, drew post 7 in an eight-horse field that includes fellow California shipper Kobe’s Back.

“He won his race the other day, but he didn’t really convince me,” Baffert said. “I think he’s more effective going one turn. His seven-eighths race was better.”

Baffert expects The Admiral to use his speed early in the Bay Shore.

“He likes to be put in the fight,” said Baffert, who has Martin Garcia to ride.

Oliver Zip, the winner of the Fred “Cappy” Capossela, drew post 2, while Kobe’s Back, the winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente at seven furlongs Feb. 16, drew post 8.

Others entered include Financial Mogul, Loki’s Vengeance, Charleymillionaire, Coup de Grace, and Favorite Tale.

◗ There will be two pick-four wagers offered on the latter part of Saturday’s 12-race card. An all-stakes pick four (races 8 through 11) will have a guaranteed pool of $500,000. There also will be a pick four offered on the last four races on the card (9 through 12) that will not have a guaranteed pool.

◗ Longshots, the much-ballyhooed simulcasting facility on the second floor of Aqueduct, opened partially Wednesday, according to Glen Kozak, vice president of facilities and racing surfaces. Everything but the bar was open Wednesday. The bar is expected to open Friday.

◗ Racing officials had hoped to start carding turf races Saturday, but that will not happen until next Wednesday at the earliest, Kozak said. According to Kozak, 2 3/4 inches of rain fell last weekend, which forced NYRA to scrap plans for turf racing this weekend.

“We would have loved to have used the turf this weekend,” Kozak said. “We didn’t need the snow that fell [Monday].”