Aqueduct: Long River to test graded stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following his three-quarter-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct, Long River has his connections considering graded stakes both near and far for the royally bred 4-year-old colt.

Among the races trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he will discuss with Jimmy Bell, the president of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable, are the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 1, the Grade 3, $200,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on March 15, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior Handicap at Aqueduct on March 22.

“We have options,” McLaughlin said Monday from south Florida. “We’ll see.”

McLaughlin said he thought Long River was “very impressive” Saturday in running down a game Percussion inside the final sixteenth. It was 13 1/2 lengths farther back to third-place finisher Jonesy Boy. Long River, a son of Grade 1 winners A.P. Indy and Round Pond, earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for the Evening Attire, his third straight win.

“Everything went just perfect,” McLaughlin said. “Everything fell into place, and [jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.] rode a great race.”

McLaughlin said Long River would remain in New York to train for the time being.

McLaughlin also said Baratti, an impressive maiden winner here Jan. 10, most likely would not run in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1. An allowance race and/or the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham on March 1 are possibilities for that son of Medaglia d’Oro.