Binkster lands in good spot

ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time New York-bred Binkster ran in an open first-level allowance race, he finished second to Yaupon, who not only beat him in that race but has gone on to win two more stakes and could go favored in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

There is no animal of such stature in Monday’s first-level allowance going six furlongs on the dirt. The $65,000 race serves as the feature on the nine-race Columbus Day card after the New York Racing Association postponed two turf stakes due to a forecast for rain. The Hill Prince will now be run Saturday, and the Knickerbocker on Sunday.

After losing to Yaupon, Binkster was third in the Tale of the Cat Stakes, finishing behind Stan the Man and My Boy Tate while dead-heating with T Loves a Fight for third.

“He’s in great form and has had a lightly raced year,” trainer Ray Handal said. “We gave him some time off after last year, and he’s come back this year really good. I expect a big run from him.”

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If the forecast is accurate and it results in a sloppy track, Binkster has two wins over a wet surface.

“I don’t know if anybody really likes a wet track, but he’s done pretty well on it whereas others may not like it,” Handal said.

Binkster does possess early speed, and there does not appear to a be lot of other speed in the field.

“He’s fast, he’ll come out guns-a-blazing because that’s him,” Handal said.

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Blindwillie McTell, who finished a half-length behind Binkster when the two ran behind Yaupon at Saratoga, is back in this field. He is a stakes winner over a wet track and also is a stakes winner at Belmont.

Cost Basis, who returns from a layoff for trainer Chad Brown, Chowda, Morning Breez, Clench, and Brush Country complete the field.