Better start would give The Grey Wizard better chance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If The Grey Wizard could ever get a better start, he might just have a better finish. The 4-year-old gelding, away last in his three starts in the U.S., will get another try at winning his first race here in Friday’s first-level allowance feature going 1 3/8 miles over Aqueduct’s turf course.
The Grey Wizard, an Irish-bred gelding by Caravaggio, began his career in Ireland with Aidan O’Brien, winning one of two starts. Purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the gelding was moved to the U.S. and Graham Motion.
After running second and fourth in allowance races at Laurel Park and Saratoga, The Grey Wizard ran second in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct on Sept. 17. While never a threat to heavy favorite Nations Pride, a 6 1/4-length winner, The Grey Wizard did rally along the rail to outfinish the Grade 1 winner Classic Causeway for second in the Jockey Club Derby.
Motion said getting out of the gate “has been an issue.”
“That’s why I think these longer races help him,” Motion said. “Having said that, he was much better last time. I think he needs to figure it out. He’s a big, kind of backward type. He’s still learning.”
Motion said he has tried working with The Grey Wizard at the gate.
“But I hate to overdo it, then they get wound up about it,” he said. “With the way he ran the other day, it was encouraging.”
Trevor McCarthy rides The Grey Wizard on Friday from post 9.
Naturally, in a marathon turf race on this circuit, trainer Chad Brown has two contenders: Orchestration and Fighter in the Win. These two finished second and third behind Shawdyshawdyshawdy in this same condition at this same distance on Sept. 23. Orchestration, the favorite that day, was outkicked by Shawdyshawdyshawdy, losing by a neck while finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of Fighter in the Win.
Shawdyshawdyshawdy came back to win an off-the-turf allowance last Friday here.
Flavien Prat rides Orchestration from post 2, while Manny Franco has the call on Fighter in the Win from post 7.
Pace is often lacking in these marathon turf affairs. Good Medicine wired a group of maidens at Saratoga at this distance on Sept. 2 and will most likely try to do so again on Friday. He breaks from post 10 with apprentice Jose Gomez aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Hilliard and Saranac ship up from Fair Hill for trainers Keri Brion and Danielle Hodsdon, respectively. Hilliard was previously trained by Mike Maker. He won a starter allowance for Maker in June and is winless in three tries in this condition. This will be his first start for Brion, who has Kendrick Carmouche to ride.
Saranac has one decent race on his form in four starts in the U.S. Eric Cancel rides.
Mo Rewards, Daunt, Exult, and Dripping Gold complete the field on turf.
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