Aqueduct: Marriedtothemusic makes quick return in Friday co-feature

According to the Chinese calendar, the “Year of the Horse” begins Friday. Aqueduct commemorates the occasion with a pair of New York-bred optional-claiming races that share top billing.

In race 8 – one of the day’s three races at 5 1/2 furlongs – the speedy Marriedtothemusic may be the shortest-priced horse on the card, following an impressive comeback victory for Dominic Galluscio just 13 days ago.

Marriedtothemusic’s six-furlong win with a 99 Beyer Speed Figure was among the fastest sprints at Saratoga last year. Following a layoff of nearly five months, he was almost as good here Jan. 18, when he broke on top and widened at every call to garner his first-level allowance condition by six lengths.

Marriedtothemusic breaks from the rail, which has been golden on several occasions recently, as the morning-line choice against 10 rivals. Not all of them will start, however, as David Jacobson’s entry of Be Bullish and Ground Force also was entered in Thursday’s fifth race; each has leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. named, necessitating that one of them must be scratched.

Be Bullish was sidelined nearly two months after Jacobson reclaimed him in November and returned to notch his 14th career victory in his seasonal bow. A win Friday would put the 9-year-old’s earnings past the $900,000 mark.

Ground Force scored off a Jacobson reclaim at the fall meet and has been freshened since caught very wide opening day on the inner track Dec. 11.

The Big Deluxe, who closed out 2013 with three straight wins, makes his 4-year-old debut for Gary Gullo and is a threat in his current form.

Race 3, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds, was originally scheduled for last Friday’s canceled program. Five of the six re-entered, headed by Mental Iceberg, who is back with New York-breds after an improved try in the Jerome for Greg DiPrima.

The new horse in the mix is Sidearm, who stretches out for Gary Contessa after three straight thirds sprinting at the winter meet.

Race 6, a one-mile, $65,000 maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds, is the day’s richest event.

None of the eight experienced runners has matched the Beyer par (80) for the level. The lone first-time starter is Beau Knows, a Birdstone colt trained by Phil Serpe.

Beau Knows, who worked a mile Jan. 18, is a half-brother to Rockport Harbor, winner of the Nashua and Remsen in 2004.