Big Engine looks to get rolling after misfire
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Big Engine has had a history of following a bad race with a good one. It’s a pattern his connections and backers hope continues Thursday in the third-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming feature going six furlongs over Aqueduct’s main track.
Thursday kicks off the final week of racing at Aqueduct before action on this circuit moves eight miles east to Belmont Park beginning April 28.
On Feb. 19, Big Engine scored a one-length victory in this same condition when not offered for the claiming price. In winning for the ninth time in 26 starts – and fourth from nine starts at Aqueduct – Big Engine recorded a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez tried the New York-bred in the Not for Love Stakes on March 19 at Laurel Park, where Big Engine finished sixth in a seven-horse field. Big Engine hit the side of the gate when the stall doors opened and was last early, and he finished five lengths behind Whereshetoldmetogo, who was winning his 10th stakes race.
“He didn’t break at all,” Rodriguez said. “I was kind of disappointed the way he ran. I thought he was going to run good. Maybe he reacted to the [Feb. 19] race and the shipping. Draw a line through it; he’s a solid horse.”
Big Engine, who Thursday is in for the $80,000 claiming price, is drawn nicely on the outside in this six-horse field and will be ridden by Trevor McCarthy, aboard for the Feb. 19 win.
Jaxon Traveler finished second in the Not for Love after setting sharp, wind-aided early fractions. In the Gravesend here Dec. 10, Jaxon Traveler finished second behind Chateau but ahead of Drafted, who came back to win the Grade 3 Tom Fool.
Jaxon Traveler, who breaks from post 2 under Jose Lezcano, may face some early pace pressure from Mr Phil, who is coming off a second-level allowance win here March 27. Mr Phil will break from the rail under Kendrick Carmouche.
Cost Basis finished fourth behind Big Engine in the Feb. 19 race. Trainer Chad Brown is adding blinkers to the 5-year-old gelding’s equipment. He wore those blinkers in a sharp half-mile move in 47.98 seconds over the Belmont training track on April 15.
Manny Franco rides Cost Basis from post 3.
The last time Our Last Buck ran in allowance company he finished second behind Aloha West in a similar spot as this at Saratoga. Aloha West went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Meanwhile, Our Last Buck has competed in five consecutive stakes, most recently finishing third in the Haynesfield for New York-breds going one mile.
Our Last Buck gets the services of hot-riding apprentice Jose Gomez.
Sagamore Mischief looks to be the outsider in this group.