Aqueduct: Monopolize comes north for what's sure to be sloppy feature

Nearly halfway through his prediction of six more weeks of winter, it certainly seems like Punxsutawney Phil – “that seer of seers, that prognosticator of prognosticators” – was right on the money.

Four of nine racing programs scheduled at Aqueduct since Groundhog Day have been canceled due to inclement weather, including three straight last week.

During the 10-day stretch from Feb. 11-20, live racing will have taken place only once. Although racing is scheduled to resume Friday, heavy rain pummeled the New York area Wednesday, and forecasters tabbed a 100 percent chance of wind-driven rain – and perhaps thunder – for Friday, as Mother Nature continues to empty her bag of tricks.

The a 10-race card is headlined by race 4, a one-mile allowance for 3-year-olds that had a field of six when originally drawn for last Sunday. This latest iteration of the $67,000 race gained another entrant in Monopolize, who will be part of a Mike Repole entry along with Village Warrior.

The entry is favored at 2-1, largely due to Monopolize, a $500,000 purchase last April, and a maiden winner early at the current meet before joining Todd Pletcher’s Florida-based string at Palm Meadows. After finishing off the board behind Fountain of Youth-bound Top Billing at Gulfstream Park, Monopolize returns to the inner track and breaks from the outside post with blinkers on.

Village Warrior steps up after adding blinkers for a win over $50,000 maidens, a race that took place on a wet track two weeks ago.
Other contenders include Street Gent, who removed a bar shoe for his seasonal bow when far back in the Withers; Oltre’ Oro, who earned the field’s top Beyer Figure of 83 beating $50,000 maidens when claimed by Linda Rice; Louisiana Flyboy, who narrowly missed at this level in his second local outing; and Schivarelli, who attempts two turns after a debut sprint win.

Otoy, who forced the pace in the Jimmy Winkfield, is also stretching out.

Two stakes Saturday

Saturday’s twin bill of $100,000 stakes consists of the regularly scheduled Kings Point at 1 1/16 miles, and the 1 1/8-mile Stymie, brought back from last Saturday’s canceled card.

Six older New York-breds go in the Kings Point, which is the fourth of 10 races and thus positioned outside the pick six. From the rail out, the field is: Moneyinyourpocket, Beautyinthepulpit, Sinistra, Commandante, Awesome Vision, and Zivo.

The Stymie picked up an additional entrant in Dawly at the redraw. The field of seven, from the rail, is: Gourmet Dinner, Don Dulce, Farhaan, Mail, Jonesy Boy, Percussion, and Dawly.

Any leftover moisture in the track could be a plus for Farhaan, who won an overnight stakes on a sealed surface first out at the meet for Kiaran McLaughlin.

“He’s relaxing more, and he likes the inner track for sure,” said assistant trainer Art Magnuson.