Aqueduct: Sioux has already proven he can handle allowance distance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While it might be for some, distance shouldn’t be an issue for Sioux when the recent maiden winner runs in a $62,000 first-level allowance race for New York-bred 2-year-olds at the rarely used distance of 7 1/2 furlongs Friday at Aqueduct.

Sioux, a son of Awesome Again who brought $200,000 as a yearling at Saratoga, is the only member of the seven-horse field to have won beyond six furlongs. That win came going a mile on Oct. 25 at Belmont Park. Sioux received a ground-saving trip under Jose Ortiz and then showed professionalism when things got tight on him in between horses in the stretch to win by a neck.

In that race, Sioux was racing with blinkers after having displayed some immaturity when third in his debut Sept. 29.

“Big difference? I don’t know,” trainer Mike Hushion said about the blinkers. “Like most 2-year-olds, you can always use a little more focus.”

Hushion does view it as “an edge” that Sioux has proven himself at the distance while most of his rivals have won at six furlongs or shorter.

“He’s a good-looking, talented horse. I don’t think he’s reached his potential yet,” said Hushion, who trains Sioux for John Fort’s Peachtree Stable. “I’m expecting him to show up.”

While Jose Ortiz rode Sioux in his maiden win, Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Sioux on Friday.

Jose Ortiz is named to ride Samraat, whom he guided to a 3 1/2-length, front-running debut victory at Belmont on Oct. 23. In that six-furlong race, Samraat broke a step slowly, but soon struck the front and turned aside all challengers while galloping out very well after the wire.

“I expected him to run well. He had trained really well. I had heard about two others in the race he had to beat,” said Rick Violette, who trains Samraat for owner/breeder Len Riggio’s My Meadowview Farm. “I thought he was fairly impressive. He broke just okay and settled well. Every time Jose asked him, he responded. It was a very encouraging debut.”

Samraat broke from the rail in his debut. He will break from the outside Friday and will race on Lasix for the first time.

“He wants to go longer – his pedigree top and bottom says that – so the stretch out shouldn’t bother him,” Violette said. “I’m really dying to get him around two turns.”

That possibility could present itself Dec. 15 when Aqueduct hosts the $100,000 East View Stakes for New York-breds scheduled for a mile and 70 yards on the inner track.

Sandcat won his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 22 and was “just not ready to run back that quick,” trainer John Kimmel said. “He’s ready now.”

Kimmel said “there’s a always a little question” stretching out form 5 1/2 furlongs to 7 1/2 furlongs in a horse’s second start but said he wanted to run him longer first time out.

Sidearm and Howaboutwe have already tried stakes company without success. Native Hero and Swell complete the field.