Big Business returns in Sunday sprint allowance

ELMONT, N.Y. – Big Business, away from the races since February, returns Sunday in a $90,000 allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs. The race looked like it was written for El Kabeir, but the multiple-graded-stakes-winning 3-year-old was not entered.

Big Business, who won the Alex M. Robb Stakes on Dec. 31, finished fifth Feb. 16 in the Grade 3 General George Handicap at Laurel. It was his second straight fifth-place finish, and Big Business was given a break.

“His form was fading, so we gave him some time,” said David Jacobson, who trains the 7-year-old New York-bred for Gary Barber. “I was really looking to run him when got over to Aqueduct, but this spot came up, and he’s doing so well that me and Gary decided to run him.”

Big Business has a 5-2-1 record from nine starts at Belmont. Last year, he finished second in the Hudson Handicap here at 6 1/2 furlongs. Big Business has had five workouts in 17 days leading up to his return.

“I wish I could breeze him one more time, but he’s good,” said Jacobson. “He’ll run a great race.”

Jacobson also will run Fabulous Kid in this spot. Fabulous Kid is coming off a third-level allowance win at Penn National in his first start for Jacobson, who bought the horse privately from Kalarikkal Jayaraman.

The others entered in the race are Erik the Red, Rainbow Heir, Pulling G’s, and Takajo.