Blindwillie McTell looks tough in Rego Park
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If Blindwillie McTell handles a dry track as well as he has a wet one, his competition could be left singing the blues in Sunday’s $100,000 Rego Park Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
After finishing second to the promising Le General in a Nov. 17 maiden race over a good Aqueduct main track, Blindwillie McTell scored a front-running, 2 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes over a sloppy surface Dec. 16. Both of those races were at six furlongs. The Rego Park is scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs.
In the Great White Way, Blindwillie McTell took some pressure on the inside from Kosciuszcko, put that one away, then fended off a challenge from Thorny Tale to draw clear for the convincing score.
“I was pretty confident that he’d pick up a nice check, if not win,” trainer Linda Rice said. “Hopefully, he runs as well on a dry track as he did in the mud.”
Blindwillie McTell will break from post 2 under Dylan Davis.
Thorny Tale and Kadens Courage, second and third, respectively, behind BlindWillie McTell in the Great White Way, look to be his main challengers again Sunday.
George Weaver, trainer of Thorny Tale, said his horse had no real excuse in the Great White Way. Thorny Tale did fire a bullet five-furlong work Jan. 5 and does get a six-pound shift in the weights with Blindwillie McTell on Sunday compared to the last race.
“I’m not sure I have any tricks up my sleeve to turn the tables,” Weaver said. “Young horses can make moves forward and move forward pretty quickly. We’re hoping for a move forward on our part.”
Eric Cancel rides Thorny Tale from post 6.
The last time Kadens Courage caught a fast track he won a maiden race by 11 1/4 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs here Nov. 30. He has twice finished behind Blindwillie McTell, in the Great White Way and in that Nov. 17 maiden race.
Strive for a Cure, a debut winner going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont in September for trainer Dale Capuano, shortens in distance and returns to New York-bred company.
Just Right is coming off a second-place finish to Le General in a statebred allowance race going a one-turn mile here Dec. 9.
Bydawnsearlylight, Funny Guy, Show Prince, Tiergan, Bustin to Be Loved, and Kazmania complete the field.
The Rego Park goes as race 7 on an eight-race card.
Following Sunday’s program, Aqueduct is dark until Friday, one day later than usual, to accommodate a four-day race week that will end with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday card on Jan. 21.
