Blacktype needs better racing luck in turf route
There is something for horseplayers of all persuasions in Thursday’s sixth race, an optional claimer scheduled for turf at 1 1/8 miles. A full field of 14 entered the $69,000 route that carries second-level allowance conditions and begins the late pick four.
Trip handicappers have been waiting for Blacktype, a French import who has encountered poor racing luck in two starts since being sent to Christophe Clement.
Making his U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont, Blacktype caught soft turf and beat half the field despite traffic near the stretch. After that, he was shuffled back badly to deep stretch before finishing full of run as the favorite here last month.
Horse-for-course fans should look no further than Idle American, a New York-bred gelding who is 4-2-0 from seven starts on Aqueduct turf for Pat Kelly, capped by a recent allowance win at 6-1.
Three other winners over the local layout are New York-breds, too: Street Game took an overnight stakes at 12-1 in 2013, Barrel of Love won an allowance at 8-1 in 2012, and Captain Gaughen won an allowance last year.
The “class on the grass” angle points to Slim Shadey and Artic North, who began 2014 by finishing second and third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel at Santa Anita.
Pace players looking for the lone speed will gravitate to Joes Blazing Aaron, who has posted three front-running wins this year, the latest at Belmont in his first start off a claim by trainer Steve Klesaris.
Joes Blazing Aaron is coupled with main-track-only entrant Frazil, who also won first off the claim at Belmont and would be looking for his sixth win on the inner track.
Also in for dirt are Golden Itiz, who has won two straight; Moneyinyour Pocket, second in the Alex M. Robb here last winter; and Our Caravan, this year’s Calder Derby winner.
KEY CONTENDERS
Blacktype (Beyers: 88-90)
◗ Oddly enough, Clement-trained horses ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. are just 2 for 29 at Aqueduct over the past two years.
Street Game (Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-93)
◗ Four of his wins have come on yielding turf, including a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure in the 2011 Hill Prince, and his best Beyer (96) of 2013 in the Dave overnight stakes.
Joes Blazing Aaron (Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-71)
◗ He is the only entrant with more than one grass win against unrestricted company in 2014.