Aqueduct: Smart Coupons may be next target for Saginaw

Though Saginaw held on for a dead-heat win with Awesome Vision in Thursday’s Compelling Word Stakes, trainer David Jacobson will be happy to get his 7-year-old New York-bred gelding back to one-turn races.

The Compelling Word was scheduled as a one-turn mile race over the main track but was run around two turns because racing was kept on the inner track an additional week. On Wednesday, Aqueduct switches to the main track, where races up to a mile will be contested around one turn. Next month brings a switch to Belmont Park, where races run up to 1 1/8 miles are run around one turn.

“Saginaw did a great job,” Jacobson said Friday morning. “We’re looking to get to the main track and the one-turn mile.”

The probable next spot for Saginaw is the $75,000 Smart Coupons, a one-mile race restricted to New York-breds on April 21, closing day at Aqueduct.

Conversely, Awesome Vision’s connections will be looking to stretch their horse out in distance. He has now won three straight races around two turns and will be pointed to the $200,000 Brooklyn at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont on June 7, according to trainer Tom Albertrani.

“We really want to stretch this horse out. He wants to go a mile and an eighth plus,” Albertrani said.

NYRA dismisses paddock judge

Neal Cutrone, the paddock judge at the New York Racing Association for the last several years, was fired at the conclusion of Thursday’s program.

No reason was given for his termination as a NYRA spokesperson said that the company does not discuss personnel matters.

Peter Fitzgerald, who has filled in as the paddock judge in Cutrone’s absence previously, is expected to fill the position.

Cutrone worked at NYRA for more than 20 years, and has served as a patrol judge as well as back-up steward.