Aqueduct: Levine figures busy Sunday in saddling ring, winner's circle

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Bruce Levine was poised to have a busy weekend at Aqueduct with 11 runners entered over two days, including five in four of Sunday’s nine races.

Sunday, Levine looks live in a pair of New York-bred allowance races – one for 3-year-old colts and one for 3-year-old fillies – that serve as the co-features on the program. Sunday was scheduled to be the last day of racing on the inner track, but weather concerns prompted New York Racing Association officials to keep it open one more week.

Rocket Hero, a debut winner Jan. 20 going six furlongs, makes his first start against winners in the seventh.

“He broke a little slow from the one hole, dirt was hitting him, and he was green,” said Levine, who is third in the inner-track standings with 25 wins. “He kind of leveled off and he put in a good run. It was a closing racetrack that day, speed wasn’t that good. l think he’s training even better now than before he ran.”

Rocket Hero will break from the outside post under leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. in the seven-horse field.

In that same race, Levine also will send out Stonely the Lonely, a second-out winner going 5 1/2 furlongs Jan. 26. Stonely the Lonely flipped in the gate and was scratched out of a race Feb. 24.

“He’s okay,” Levine said. “I think the other horse is a better horse.”

Stonely the Lonely is by Bustin Stones, a horse Levine campaigned through a 6-for-6 career, including a victory in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in 2008.

Bustin Stones also is the sire of the New York-bred Keep Bustin, who brings a 3-for-3 record into Sunday’s eighth race for 3-year-old fillies. Keep Bustin has already won at this condition twice when offered for the optional claiming price of $75,000. Sunday, she is not offered for the tag.

“She trained good before I ran her – she was training the best of the Stones,” Levine said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong, but I can’t really say she’s done a lot better.”

Keep Bustin meets a competitive, speed-laden field that includes Sweet Sway, who has won two straight this winter over the inner track.

Earlier on the card, Levine will send out Catalan, a 6-year-old gelding he claimed for $20,000 for Mike Repole on Jan. 10 but who is running for $12,500 in Sunday’s second.

In the fourth, a six-furlong maiden race for New York-bred fillies, Levine sends out Invading Humor, who was transferred to him by the owners after she finished eighth for Juan Carlos Guerrero in her debut.