Aqueduct: Fusa Code has stakes credentials

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A pair of first-level allowance races share top billing on Thursday’s Aqueduct card, beginning with race 3, a $53,000 sprint at seven furlongs.

Of the six 3-year-olds in the lineup, the most accomplished is Fusa Code, whose maiden win came in the $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Following a seventh-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby a month later, Fusa Code returned to the sprint ranks and narrowly missed at Churchill Downs. He was then sidelined until Belmont’s fall meet, and will make his third start back from a layoff.

The 2-1 morning-line choice is Self Control, which is to be expected, because he has gone off as the favorite in all four previous starts for Chad Brown, including a maiden win at Saratoga when switched to dirt.

Harley, Mysticism, Purplegreenandgold, and Sam Sparkle also entered.

A field of 16 New York-bred fillies and mares, including four for dirt only, entered race 7, a $43,000 allowance scheduled for 1 1/1/6 miles on turf.

Contenders include Glory in Motion, who has won twice over the local course; and Lady’s Lunar Luck, a 38-1 winner over the course last fall.

Awesome Feather fires bullet

Awesome Feather, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, on Tuesday had her fourth workout since a winning comeback against overnight stakes fillies Oct. 5, breezing five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.04 seconds on the main track at Belmont. It was the fastest of 10 works at the distance. The Chad Brown-trained filly is pointing to the Grade 1 Gazelle Nov. 26.

Wood Memorial winner Arthur’s Tale, fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby in his return from a layoff, also worked five-eighths on the main track, going in 1:02.84 for Tom Albertrani.

Long Island ends turf stakes

Saturday’s Grade 3 Long Island Handicap is the final graded turf stakes of the New York season. The Woodbine-based mare Mekong Melody, who won it last year for trainer Roger Attfield, is expected to defend her title. She was ninth in the E. P. Taylor behind winning stablemate Miss Keller most recently.

Probable starters also include Emerald Beech, the Glens Falls winner and fourth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, and Giants Play, who won the Grade 2 New York Stakes earlier this year.

Frivolous Buck, Hasay, Hit It Rich, Love’s Blush, and Unbridled Essence are also likely for the 12-furlong Long Island.