Bourbon Bay back with his friends in Gander Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There was a fleeting moment at the top of the stretch of the Jerome Stakes on New Year’s Day when it looked like Bourbon Bay was going to give 1-9 favorite Independence Hall a serious challenge in the stretch.

While Independence Hall ultimately asserted his class en route to a four-length victory, Bourbon Bay fought on to earn a dead heat for second with Prince of Pharoahs, finishing four lengths behind Independence Hall, but 11 1/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Sunday at Aqueduct, Bourbon Bay returns to action in the $100,000 Gander Stakes, restricted to New York-bred 3-year-olds, and while the race came up solid, the seven-horse field does not feature a horse the quality of Independence Hall.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Trainer Mark Hennig had briefly considered running Bourbon Bay in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes here two weeks ago, but felt the horse would benefit from more time.

“He’s been a little bit of a slow learner at the gate,” Hennig said. “I thought he did a little better that day, but we continue to work on getting him to leave there decent. He’s a horse that doesn’t have to have things his own way, always comes running.”

In the Jerome, Hennig said: Bourbon Bay “got floated out a little bit turning for home, which cost him some momentum. He could have easily been third if he hadn’t dug in the last part. He’s obviously a horse with a bright future and he’s doing really well.”

Manny Franco rides Bourbon Bay from post 6.

Bourbon Bay is a horse that does well with pace to run at, and that scenario should play itself out in the Gander with Chowda, Colormepazzi, and Scilly Cay in the field.

Scilly Cay is coming off a 2 1/2-length victory in the Rego Park Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs here Jan. 12. He will attempt a mile for the first time.

“Six or seven [furlongs] is good; a mile might be a stretch but it’s worth a try,” trainer Linda Rice said. “He’s a small, compact horse, which would lend you to think he might be a better sprinter. Going longer, he’ll probably be a little more forwardly placed like he was last time.”

Bank On Shea rallied from off the pace to record a nose victory in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs Dec. 14. The added furlong of this race “shouldn’t bother him at all,” trainer Jason Servis said.

Jose Lezcano rides Bank On Shea from post 4.

Trainer Gary Sciacca sends out the uncoupled entry of Chowda and Microscope, who finished a neck apart when running 1-2 in a first-level allowance race going a mile here Jan. 17. Wild Banker, a maiden winner going a mile here Jan. 24, completes the field.

The Gander goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m.