Aqueduct feature a rematch for Katskill Bay and Fiery Footwork

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Katskill Bay and Fiery Footwork, who finished a neck apart when second and third behind stakes-bound 3-year-old Dr Disco in a similar spot St. Patrick's Day, are among a handful of contenders in Thursday's $42,000 optional claiming feature at Aqueduct, which is for New York-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Coming off a determined finish to edge Fiery Footwork for second, Katskill Bay may have the right running style to overtake a hotly contested pace.

Ridden by Ramon Dominguez in his first two starts off a claim by Rick Dutrow, Katskill Bay gets a switch to John Velazquez, as Dominguez completes a two-day suspension for an incident in the Dubai World Cup.

Fiery Footwork wired maidens in his only start on the main track last fall for Gary Contessa. Two starts back, in his fifth attempt against first-level allowance stock, the gray gelding showed an added dimension rating just off the lead and overtaking the pacesetter to win going away. He was, however, positioned up close to a blistering pace most recently.

"If there's a chance for him to make the lead, I'd like him to go if it's physically possible," said Contessa. "I think he's one of the ones in there - he figures to have a shot."

Quick Money and Fulton Street step up after getting through the first-level condition in their last start. They are also likely to contest the early issue, with the speedy Pete's Parley applying pressure from the outside post as well.

Linda Rice lost Quick Money to a $7,500 claim Jan. 2, but reclaimed him out of a win for the same amount three starts later. The aptly named colt returned 13 days later to wire allowance rivals for his second straight win, earning $24,000.

Fulton Street, the lone 3-year-old in Thursday's lineup, has won 2 of 4 starts for John Kimmel.

Pete's Parley, an alert-breaking Freud colt, led early in four of his five starts at the inner-track meet. He ran third in his first try in this condition behind Giant Ryan, who was scheduled to run in an overnight stakes Wednesday.

Make Note and City Trooper, who won as 2-year-olds on Aqueduct's main track in the fall of 2009, are in with a chance on their best efforts.

Make Note, a two-time stakes winner at 2, rallied late to be a length behind Katskill Bay last out.

Midnight Billy and System Restore complete the field.