Aqueduct: Noble Moon to miss Withers Stakes with foot injury

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Noble Moon, the leading 3-year-old contender based in New York, has been taken out of training due to an issue with his right front foot and will not make the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 1, trainer Leah Gyarmati said Saturday.

Gyarmati said that depending on how much time Noble Moon misses, he could perhaps make the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes here March 1.

Noble Moon won the Grade 2 Jerome by two lengths here Jan. 4, his second win from three career starts. Gyarmati said the horse came out of the race with an injured foot.

“He came out of the race with an issue that I’m losing a significant amount of time with, so I’m not going to even think about the Withers,” Gyarmati said at Belmont Park. “He’ll be out of training for a couple of weeks.”

Gyarmati had wavered over whether to run Noble Moon in the Withers or wait for the Gotham anyway. Between the foot and the inconsistent weather at this time of year, it remains to be seen if Gyarmati can have Noble Moon ready for the Gotham, run at 1 1/16 miles only four weeks after the Withers.

“I’m hoping everything will be resolved so that will be the next start,” said Gyarmati, who trains Noble Moon for Jeff Treadway.

Gyarmati and Treadway might still be represented in the Withers by Street Gent, a maiden winner going 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track Dec. 1.

Gyarmati also said she did not nominate Grade 1 Spinaway winner Sweet Reason to the $100,000 Busher Stakes here Feb. 1. Gyarmati said she does not think she could have Sweet Reason – who has not run since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – ready to run 1 1/16 miles by that time.

Gyarmati would like to make the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle on April 5, though she is not sure where Sweet Reason would run before then.

Uncle Sigh, who figured to be one of Noble Moon’s main rivals in the Withers, worked a stamina-building six furlongs in 1:17.48 on Saturday over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Withers.

With former jockey Nick Santagata aboard, Uncle Sigh went his first three furlongs in 39.94 seconds and his second three furlongs in 37.54. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:31.12 and pulled up a mile in 1:44.97.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

“He galloped out strong,” trainer Gary Contessa said. “I’ll come back with a sharp something next week, and we’ll be sitting on go.”

Saturday’s move was in sharp contrast to a move Jan. 10, when Uncle Sigh worked five furlongs in 1:00.30, the fastest of 27 works at the distance.

“This is just all maintenance stuff, keeping him happy, keeping him fit,” Contessa said. “This is more of what I was looking for last time.”

Uncle Sigh, a New York-bred son of Indian Charlie, won a two-turn maiden race over the inner track Dec. 27 by 14 1/2 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. That followed a head defeat to Groupthink in a six-furlong maiden race in which he earned a 95.

“This horse makes it very easy to wake up in the morning,” Contessa said.

La Verdad possible for Fritchie

After successfully running through her conditions – and winning her fifth straight race – the New York-bred filly La Verdad must now tackle stakes company. Trainer Linda Rice is considering the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 15.

That seven-furlong race would be La Verdad’s first attempt beyond six furlongs. The timing of that race would be better than the $100,000 Correction going six furlongs here Feb. 1.

“I like keeping them home – it keeps them consistent and in form,” Rice said. “Timing-wise, the race in Maryland may work out better. I think she’s going to be okay at the seven-eighths.”

Rice said a major spring target for La Verdad is the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap over Aqueduct’s main track at six furlongs April 19.

On Friday, La Verdad scored a 2 3/4-length victory in a second-level open-company allowance race. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.46 and earned a 97 Beyer, equaling her career-best.

◗ Mean Season, an impressive first-level allowance winner here Dec. 22, was scratched out of a second-level allowance race here Saturday after spiking a temperature Friday, according to Leana Willaford, an assistant to trainer Bill Mott.

◗ Ruler On Ice, the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.81 on Saturday over the Belmont training track. Trainer Kelly Breen said he has nothing picked out for Ruler On Ice, who has not run since finishing fifth in an allowance race at Parx Racing on Nov. 9.