Aqueduct: Florida shippers make presence known on 9-race card

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The much-needed infiltration of horses from south Florida to New York has begun, evidenced by the presence of several such animals entered on Friday’s card at Aqueduct, including three from trainer Chad Brown.

Brown looks to be a major presence in two first-level allowance races and a maiden race with Florida shippers on Friday’s nine-race card.

In the sixth, a $62,000 seven-furlong race for 3-year-old males, Brown sends out Texas Two Step, who won his Feb. 15 debut at Oaklawn Park when in the barn of Kellyn Gorder. Owned by WinStar Farm, Texas Two Step overcame a wide trip to win by 2 1/4 lengths while being taken in hand late by jockey Channing Hill.

WinStar sold half-interest in the colt to Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, and the horse was turned over to Brown at Palm Meadows.

“He’s a good-looking horse that has a lot of upside,” Brown said Wednesday from Keeneland. “He worked three times for me. He looked good. This is a logical spot to get him started for us. He came to me in very good shape.”

Texas Two Step won his debut at six furlongs, but Brown doesn’t think seven furlongs or farther will be a problem.

“He has enough size and scope to him to indicate he shouldn’t have any trouble stretching out seven-eighths and beyond,” said Brown, who has Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride from post 5.

Also shipping up for this race is Ragtime, a son of Henny Hughes, who won his maiden in his second start Feb. 1 for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Geaux Mets, a New York-bred, won this race condition March 14, when offered for the $75,000 optional-claiming price. He is running Friday under the allowance condition.

Eye Luv Lulu and Bass River Road, who finished second and third, respectively, behind Geaux Mets March 14, are also back in this field.

In the eighth race, a $67,000 first-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, Brown sends out Rubindy for owner Cam Allard. Rubindy has not run since Dec. 29, when she won an off-the-turf maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths. Prior to that, she was beaten by 4 3/4 lengths at Belmont, when she hit the gate at the start.

“She’s had some bad luck, this filly,” Brown said. “She always trained like she has a lot of talent. She had a little trouble in her first start sprinting, and it was a little shorter than she wants to run. In her second start, she was able to finish despite going very fast early. Then, she got sick on me, and we had to back off.”

Brown said he was able to get a string of steady works into her for this race.

Dowager, an A.P. Indy filly who won a maiden race by 11 3/4 lengths here March 6, is the main threat to Rubindy. Parc Monceau, Holiday’s Jewel, and Fade to Black complete the field.

In the seventh race, a $60,000 maiden sprint for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs, Brown will send out Fame and Fortune, a full sister to Grade 1 Whitney winner Cross Traffic. Fame and Fortune has not raced in a year, finishing second to Sweet N Discreet in a six-furlong race at Gulfstream. Sweet N Discreet won the Sunshine Millions Distaff earlier this year.