Aqueduct: Gallant Fields, Black N Beauty logical choices in featured route

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gallant Fields, a gaining second to multiple stakes winner This Ones for Phil in his only start this year, figures to vie for favoritism with the improved Black N Beauty in Thursday’s feature at Aqueduct.

Black N Beauty and Gallant Fields break from posts 1 and 2 respectively in a second-level optional $50,000 claimer for older horses going a mile and 70 yards. To their outside, in post position order, are Lubango, Day of Destiny, Modern Cowboy, and Viscount.

Black N Beauty, claimed for $25,000 last fall by Chris Englehart, raised his game considerably when stretched out twice earlier this winter, recording career-best Beyer Speed Figures of 97 for a win and a runner-up finish in January.

Gallant Fields earned a 100 Beyer for winning a first-level allowance at Saratoga for Kiaran McLaughlin, and was subsequently second to Mucho Macho Man at Aqueduct’s fall meet. After a wide third going long on the inner track Dec. 9, Gallant Fields turned back to a sprint off a 10-week freshening and was a rallying second to This Ones for Phil, who just missed in the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel three days later.

Viscount has been unsuccessful from eight starts in this condition since December 2009, but has met stakes horses such as Apriority, San Pablo, and Yawanna Twist along the way.

Modern Cowboy is among a handful of runners going first time off either a claim or private purchase for David Jacobson on Thursday.

While Modern Cowboy has not run in nearly seven weeks, two of his best races came with similar spacing between starts last year – an overnight stakes win on the inner dirt, and a placing in the Grade 3 Excelsior.

◗ Jacobson, who entered the final three weeks of the meet with a two-win lead in the trainer standings, also sends out new acquisitions More Than a Reason and Ventura Bar in the day’s first two races, along with the uncoupled duo of Ashcraft Silver and Chat Me Up in the nightcap.

◗ Additionally, Jacobson has Tazered and Copy My Swagger – who both ran Saturday – wheeling back on short rest in the first two legs of the late pick four. In race 6, Tazered steps up a notch after wiring cheaper “beaten” claimers. In race 7, Copy My Swagger drops to a first-level allowance after a respectable fourth in the Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes.