Brown has pair of maidens for return of turf racing at Big A
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Turf racing returns to the New York circuit on Wednesday at Aqueduct and not a minute too soon. Field size on dirt in April has fallen to 6.42 horses per race, down from 7.18 during March.
By starting the turf season three weeks later than usual and limiting the number of turf races, at least on weekdays, the New York Racing Association is hoping the two Aqueduct courses are more durable through the spring, early summer, and fall. There are two turf races – one on each course – scheduled each day Wednesday through Friday, while there are four grass races scheduled for Saturday, including the first turf stakes of the year, the $125,000 Woodhaven for 3-year-old males.
The first turf event of the year is a maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 1/16 miles. The race drew a field of nine, eight betting interests with a coupled entry from the barn of Tony Dutrow.
Trainer Chad Brown has the uncoupled entry of Midway Memories and Scarlett’s Halo, both of whom are making their second career starts. Midway Memories, a half-sister to Grade 1 dirt stakes winner Zandon, came with a wide rally and just lost a bob when defeated a nose by third-time starter Curlaine on March 19 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Stillthinkingofyou, the fourth-place finisher from that race, came back to win her maiden March 30.
“She showed a good turn of foot,” Brown said of Midway Memories. “We always liked the horse last year and she had a few issues. I’m hoping to break through with her.”
Manny Franco rides Midway Memories from post 2.
Scarlett’s Halo, a daughter of Practical Joke, didn’t do much running in her debut, finishing ninth, beaten 10 1/4 lengths, in a March 9 maiden race at Gulfstream Park. The winner of that race, Bunratty Manor, did go gate to wire, while the runner-up, Double Jeopardy, rallied from 10th and came back to just miss when finishing second last week at Keeneland.
“She had a challenging Gulfstream trip, she didn’t get away good, was in the rear on that pavement turf course,” Brown said. “She tried to make a coupe of little moves. . . . She trained much better than that. I expect her to run much better.”
Javier Castellano rides Scarlett’s Halo.
Siyouni Flash ran three times in France for Nicolas Clement, with two seconds and a third before being transferred to his brother Christophe over the winter. Siyouni Flash is by Siyouni out of the dam Aigue Marine who won the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct in 2014 for Christophe Clement.
Dutrow’s entry includes third-time starter Sailaway and the first-time starter Big Magic. Sailaway ran okay on debut in January before finishing last in her second start, a result that perplexed Dutrow.
“She trained the way you’d want on dirt this winter but trained really, really good on turf,” Dutrow said. “I don’t know what to make of that race.”
Big Magic is out of the dam Balance Neige, a two-time winner on turf in France.
The other turf race on Wednesday’s card – a make-up card for the cancellation of a March 30 program – is a maiden $50,000 claimer restricted to New York-breds that drew an overflow field of 16, of which 12 will be permitted to run. Makeyourmoment has the best form of those that have run on turf. Yo Bro took money but was rank when finishing 10th in his debut last October. A gelding by Omaha Beach, Yo Bro is a half-brother to four turf winners.
Captain Cook likely to cut back
Captain Cook, the 3-year-old who finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, is likely to shorten up to a one-turn race for his next start, trainer Rick Dutrow said over the weekend.
Dutrow said a race like the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs on June 7 at Saratoga “is interesting” though he was not committing to it.
“He’s nailed seven-eighths before for us, so that’s not out of the question,” Dutrow said. “That sounds like it could be a reasonable spot.”
Captain Cook, a son of Practical Joke, won a maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Aqueduct last December, his first start for Dutrow. He did win the Withers at 1 1/8 miles by 2 1/4 lengths before his fourth to Rodriguez in the Wood Memorial.
Captain Cook returned to the work tab on Saturday, breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds over Belmont Park’s training track.
Three-way jockey race
Entering the final week of the 16-day Aqueduct spring meet there is a three-way tie atop the jockey standings.
Dylan Davis, who won 10 races over the last four cards, now has 15 wins at the meet as does Kendrick Carmouche and Manny Franco.
Speaking of jockeys, reigning Eclipse champion Flavien Prat will ride at Aqueduct on Saturday and Sunday as a prelude to him moving back East following the Kentucky Derby.
Entering the final week of racing, Linda Rice has 11 wins, three more than both Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.
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