Aqueduct: Sinistra sharp for Monday allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When it comes to Sinistra, trainer Karl Grusmark believes the longer the race, the better the chances that his 4-year-old gelding can be successful.

On Monday, Grusmark is hoping that 1 1/16 miles will be far enough for Sinistra when he takes on 11 rivals in a $57,000 first-level allowance race for New York-breds that serves as the featured event on the nine-race card. This will be the first of 12 Monday programs Aqueduct will offer through March 31 as NYRA experiments with how to stimulate handle. Dark days will be Tuesday and Wednesday during this period.

Monday’s race is very similar to a spot Grusmark had Sinistra entered in Jan. 3, a card that got canceled due to inclement weather. The major difference is that that race was at 1 1/8 miles, and Sinistra was coming off the best performance of his career – albeit a neck loss – at that distance Dec. 11.

“I liked the spot he was in when they canceled the races a little better,” Grusmark said. “He’s coming off the race of his life going a mile and an eighth, and I think he would have run that race back at a mile and an eighth.”

Still, this race drew many of the same horses who were entered Jan. 3, plus several unimposing runners who weren’t. Fourteen were entered for Monday, but only 12 will be permitted to run.

Sinistra’s lone victory and four seconds came from his six starts around two turns over the inner track. Sinistra was injured last March 30 when eighth in a spot like this. He came back off a seven-month layoff with two decent efforts sprinting before his last effort, when he was beaten by Pure Attitude, who came back to win a second-level allowance race on New Year’s Day.

Rosario Montanez will ride Sinistra from post 9.

Sea to Sky, trained by Rick Violette, is similar to Sinistra in that his better races have come going two turns over the inner track. Last out, he lost a nose decision to Native Singer going a mile while finishing 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

“He ran a terrific race; he did everything but win,” Violette said. “He showed a different dimension last time where he doesn’t have to be on the pace.”

A potential upsetter is Ego Friendly, who went winless in 13 starts last year but has run two decent races since getting blinkers added to his equipment by trainer Patrick Quick.

“He’s got a good shot off his last race,” Quick said. “He seems to be improving. Two turns have been a big help for him. He might be able to catch them at the end because he won’t get tired, whereas the others might get tired.”

If able to draw in off the also-eligible list, Escape to the Moon could be interesting. The son of Malibu Moon would be trying two turns for the first time.