Bauer ships in Luna's in Charge for shot at New York-breds

Trainer Phil Bauer’s first starter at Aqueduct could be his first winner as Luna’s in Charge invades for Sunday’s ninth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in New York. It will be run over six furlongs and drew a large field of 10.

If the horses look familiar, most were in the same spot Thursday, on a card that was canceled at the hands of Winter Storm Gail.

“We were excited about that race, and then Miss Gail came to town,” Bauer said.

“We’re certainly happy to get the race back in a short amount of time.”

Luna’s in Charge has invaded from Kentucky, where he ran a close fourth in a first-level allowance sprint Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old by Take Charge Indy earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 81, which is the best last-race number in the field Sunday.

“The fact that he ran so well in open company at Churchill Downs, it would be silly if we didn’t take advantage of the statebred program when the condition book fit,” Bauer said of the decision to ship to Aqueduct. “It was something we thought needed to be done. This is perfect timing. He’s doing well. We took a swing at it.”

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Bauer, a former assistant to trainer Ken McPeek, became a head trainer in 2013. Luna’s in Charge is owned by Rigney Racing, the operation for which Bauer is a private trainer. Bauer is in the midst of his best year on the track, with $926,759 in stable earnings through Wednesday. He’s gone 15 for 92 and is poised to surpass his best annual win total of 15, accomplished in 120 starts, in 2019. The stable has horses at Fair Grounds and also will have a division this winter at Oaklawn Park.

As for Luna’s in Charge, he will break from post 6 on Sunday under Jose Lezcano.

“If you look at his [past performances], you can send him, you can take him back,” Bauer said. “He’s the type of horse you can do anything you want with. He always seems to come with his race.”

The last two times Luna’s in Charge ran in the New York-bred ranks he was second in a pair of first-level allowance sprints this past summer at Saratoga. In one start he was beaten a nose by More Graytful, who in November put up a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 when winning a statebred allowance at Aqueduct.

Other chief players in Sunday’s race include Jemography. He was just edged at this condition in each of his last two starts, finishing second by a half-length in both October at Belmont Park and November at Aqueduct.

Dylan Davis has the mount from post 9 for Windylea Farm and trainer Mark Hennig.

Notorious Flirt was third behind Jemography last out at Aqueduct.

Leap to Glory is a six-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. The same can be said for four-time winner Possetizzly.