Aqueduct: Lawmaker looks to improve in softer spot

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown said he saw some positives from Lawmaker’s fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Jerome three weeks ago, but not enough to run him back in next weekend’s Grade 3 Withers Stakes.

So, Brown found what he hopes is a better spot for Lawmaker in Sunday’s $67,000 first-level allowance feature for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s inner track. The race, which will go as the fourth on the nine-race card, drew a field of five.

Lawmaker, a son of Malibu Moon and a half-brother to the millionaire Last Gunfighter, finished fifth in the Jerome, 4 3/4 lengths behind Noble Moon. Lawmaker endured a wide trip, but did show some interest in the stretch, though he ended up on the short side of a three-horse photo for third behind Scotland and Matuszak, who is in Sunday’s field.

“If he was able to save ground, he could’ve been third,” said Brown, who trains Lawmaker for owner/breeder John Gunther. “The horse had just shipped in from Florida a few days before the race. It was just his second start and first around two turns. There are some things we can build on off that and hopefully improve upon.”

Lawmaker, who worked a decent half-mile in 48.90 seconds at Belmont on Jan. 17, will break from the rail under Jose Ortiz. He could get some pace in which to close with Undertaker and Maximus Decimus in the field.

Undertaker, a son of Unbridled’s Song, was cross-entered in Saturday’s Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel, but was scratched from that race to run here, trainer John Servis said Friday. Undertaker is coming off a front-running maiden victory going a mile and 70 yards in the slop at Parx Racing on Dec. 29, his third career start.

In that race, Undertaker was a handful at the gate, then ran off to a seven-length lead after a half-mile. It looked like he might get caught in the stretch, before spurting clear late to win by three.

“He showed some talent from the get-go,” said Servis, who trains Undertaker, a $150,000 yearling purchase, for Leonard Green. “He’s a very immature horse. His first two races I was extremely disappointed. I thought he’d run good, and [he] didn’t show up. The only concern I have is did the light go on or did the slop help him? His mother [Kris’s Sis] was all turf. He seems to have really woken up since the race; hoping to see another big effort from him.”

Eswan Flores will come up from Parx to ride Undertaker from post 3.

Maximus Decimus finished third behind Master Lightning in a four-horse, first-level allowance race here Dec. 22. Trainer Michelle Nevin is adding blinkers to the Offlee Wild colt’s equipment.

Kid Cruz makes his first start after being claimed by Linda Rice for $50,000 out of a six-length win going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 22. Kid Cruz, with Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride, gets Lasix for the first time.