Aqueduct: King and Crusader may try Gotham

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - King and Crusader, who won two races over Aqueduct's inner track in four days including the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, could make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes on March 3, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said Thursday.

King and Crusader, a son of Lion Heart, won a restricted optional claimer on Jan. 13 going a two-turn mile and then came on Jan. 16 to take the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield.

“He might make his next start in the Gotham,” Dutrow said from Florida. “He came out of his races good, we’re happy with him. We’re going to give him plenty of time to his next race and treat him like a good horse.”

Before his two wins over the inner track in four days, King and Crusader finished first in the Maryland Juvenile Championship. He was disqualified from that victory, however, for having been given Lasix too close to the race. That decision is under appeal.

Meanwhile, Dutrow said that I Want Revenge came out of his second-place finish in the Evening Attire Stakes in good order. Dutrow said he has not made any plans for I Want Revenge, who has not won a race since the 2009 Wood Memorial.

One preliminary thought is pointing to the $1 million Charles Town Classic in April, but Dutrow said the horse would have “to show up and run a big race next time” to be considered for that.

Dutrow said that C.C’s Pal, winner of the Garland of Roses and Ladies Handicap in her last two outings, will make her next start in the $150,000 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel on Feb. 18. She had been battling a foot issue, which prevented her from running in the Affectionately.

◗ Fortydeuce, who was bet down to 2-5 favoritism in a maiden $12,500 claiming race here Thursday, suffered a fractured knee during the running of Thursday’s fourth race and was euthanized.