Aqueduct: Tough test for Mean Season

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After watching Mean Season blitz a first-level allowance field here on Dec. 22, assistant trainer Leana Willaford resigned herself to the fact she would be putting the speedy colt on a van headed for Florida and trainer Bill Mott’s stable at Payson Park.

Much to her surprise, Mott told Willaford that Mean Season would be staying in New York for the winter. Saturday, Mean Season makes his second start for his new connections – and third career start – in a salty second-level optional $50,000 claiming race that drew a field of 11.
Mean Season, a son of Henny Hughes, won his debut by 4 3/4 lengths at Laurel on Sept. 25. He was put through the Keeneland November sale, where he was purchased for $150,000 by Jake Ballis and turned over to Mott. In his first start for Mott, Mean Season scored an eight-length victory, running six furlongs in 1:10.08, earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

“That’s always going to surprise you,” Willaford said. “We worked him four or five times and he acted like he could run. Anytime they jump up and do that it’s ‘Whoa, okay.’ ”

Willaford started looking for stakes races right away before Mott “burst my bubble” by pointing to an allowance race, she said.
“Bill’s probably right, which is why he’s in the Hall of Fame and I just work for him,” Willaford said.

This race is no easy spot. The field includes 14-time winner Be Bullish and B Shanny as well as Luckysdream, a fast gelding who ships in from Parx off a 103 Beyer Speed Figure earned last out. Those three horses are entered for the $50,000 claiming tag.

“I don’t care if they’re in for the tag or not, you’ve got some old, hard-knockers in there with back class,” Willaford said. “There’s other speed in there but he’s naturally a quick horse.”

Mean Season will break from post 4, replacing the injured Junior Alvarado.

Cannizzo riding roller-coaster

In the first two weeks of the year, David Cannizzo has already ridden the emotional roller-coaster that comes with training horses.
Cannizzo, who maintains a 22-horse stable, got 2014 off to a solid start with three wins – including the first two races run on New Year’s Day. On Monday, however, his stable experienced heartbreak when barn favorite Go Canes Go suffered a fatal leg fracture while working over the Belmont training track.

“He had so much talent,” Cannizzo said. “The screws weren’t tight in his brain. He couldn’t put it all together but on certain days . . . ”
Go Canes Go had been eased in his most recent start, a fact Cannizzo blamed on the gelding’s inability to handle a wet track. Cannizzo had scratched him from a race on Sunday due to an off track.

Speaking of the injury, Cannizzo said, “Just brutal. Crushed us.”

Cannizzo hopes his 3-for-10 start is a harbinger for 2014. Cannizzo has three major clients for whom he trains and says they will let him be “more aggressive” in placing horses.

“You don’t like to look at the Form and seeing yourself 20-1,” Cannizzo said. “You like to see yourself 4-1 or under and that’s what we’re going to aim to do.”

Cannizzo won the year’s first two races on this circuit with Nonstop ($6.90) and Princess Maura ($7.90). On Jan. 12, he won a $35,000 claiming race with a 25-1 shot in Take Down Two.

One of Cannizzio’s better horses from last year, River Dancer, second in the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, is expected back later this year. He sustained a suspensory injury and has undergone stem-cell surgery twice.

“Looking to get him back in May, take it easy, and hope he’s half as good as he was and we’ll have a good horse,” Cannizzo said.

Saratoga Snacks cross-entered

Saratoga Snacks, listed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning-line for Saturday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes, was entered back for Sunday’s $100,000 Whodam Stakes, a one-mile race restricted to New York-breds.

Saratoga Snacks, who won the Empire Classic last October, hasn’t run since he finished eighth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30, a race in which he stumbled at the break. He was scratched from the Alex M. Robb on Dec. 28 due to a foot issue.

Sciacca said he would rather run Saratoga Snacks a mile than 1 1/16 miles and is considering next month’s $250,000 General George at seven furlongs at Laurel for Saratoga Snacks.

Moonlight Song beats Palace

Moonlight Song, under Jose Ortiz, rallied past pacesetting Night Maneuver in the stretch and drew clear to win Thursday’s $75,000 Gold and Roses Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.

Palace, the 4-5 favorite, got up in the final jump to nip Night Maneuver for second.

Moonlight Song, a 7-year-old gelding by Unbridled’s Song, won for the sixth time in 13 career starts. He is owned by Al Fried and trained by Charlton Baker. Moonlight Song ran six furlongs in 1:10.58 and returned $4.30 as the second choice.