Aqueduct: Queens County proves fine Plan B for Jonesy Boy

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Queens County was not trainer Kelly Breen’s first choice of races in which to run Jonesy Boy this week.

When a third-level allowance race failed to fill for Friday at Aqueduct, Breen was persuaded to supplement Jonesy Boy in Saturday’s $100,000 Queens County Stakes.

That decision paid off when Jonesy Boy, under Rajiv Maragh, rallied from last through Aqueduct’s snowy stretch to nail Don Dulce in the final yards and win the Queens County by a neck. It was four lengths back to Spa City Fever in third. Percussion and Sliver and Onions, the 8-5 favorite, completed the order of finish.

The win was the fourth from just six career starts for Jonesy Boy, a son of Smarty Jones out of the Olympio dam Romp and Stop, who is a half-sister to 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi.

Jonesy Boy was making just his second start of 2013 after having some physical issues that kept him sidelined for nearly a year.

“He had some injuries. It took a while for them to heal, but he’s doing good and looking good right now,” Breen said by phone from Gulfstream Park.

The Queens County developed nicely for the late-running Jonesy Boy, who was taken to the back of the pack by Maragh while a three-horse battle developed up front among Percussion, Spa City Fever, and Sliver and Onions, who stumbled coming out of the starting gate. That trio was heads apart through six furlongs in 1:14.01.

Maragh tipped Jonesy Boy five wide turning for home and after Spa City Fever, under David Cohen, took the lead in mid-stretch, Jonesy Boy was able to outfinish him in the final yards to get the victory. Jonesy Boy covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.02 and returned $15.60 as the fourth choice in the five-horse field.

“Midway on the turn I saw I got a great shot to win it. I only had a couple of lengths to make up and it seemed like my horse was just getting into his best stride,” Maragh said. “At the top of the lane he switched leads and he really put in a real good run. I thought if he could maintain the run he was going to win and he sure did.”

Breen said he wasn’t sure what might be next for Jonesy Boy. The next race for the older male division on this circuit is the $100,000Evening Attire on Jan. 18.

“This horse is very delicate,” Breen said. “I just hope he comes out of this race as well as he did his last race. He needs a little bit of time between races to get over a race.”

Four-win day for Ortiz

Though Ortiz finished last aboard Sliver and Onions in the Queens County, he recorded the first four-win day of his career on Saturday.

Ortiz, 20, won the fourth on Lulu Rocks ($6.70), the fifth on Zivo ($4.90), the seventh on The Big Deluxe ($10), and the nightcap aboard Stellerite ($7.60).

Ortiz has 200 wins on the New York Racing Association circuit for 2013, third behind Javier Castellano (239) and his brother Irad Ortiz Jr. (209).