Bucchero in quick turnaround for Turf Sprint Championship

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The turf stakes season closes this weekend in New York with the inaugural runnings of three black-type events, two coming on Saturday’s 10-race card at Aqueduct.

The installation of a new turf course enabled the New York Racing Association to card turf sprints this fall, and Saturday’s $125,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship at six furlongs drew a solid field headed by Bucchero, who is running back just three weeks after finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

Also on Saturday’s card is the $150,000 Forever Together, which drew the second- through fourth-place finishers from the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Park on Oct. 28. The $125,000 Autumn Days on Sunday will be the final turf stakes of 2017 on this circuit.

Bucchero drew the outside post in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, which drew 11 runners for the grass and two more for the main track. Ready for Rye ran in Thursday’s Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct and will scratch from this spot.

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Bucchero pulled a 26-1 upset in the Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland, then ran a very respectable fourth, beaten just one length by Stormy Liberal, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. This will be his first try at six furlongs on turf and first time on less-than-firm ground since he won an allowance race over good ground at Indiana Grand in 2016.

“He runs pretty much on anything,” said trainer Tim Glyshaw, who will be running his first horse at Aqueduct in this spot. “I don’t think it’ll bother him, but I’d much rather it be firm for him.”

Bucchero had post 11 of 12 in the BC Turf Sprint and used his speed to get up close and in a ground-saving position. He encountered some traffic along the rail in the stretch and couldn’t get out in time to try and catch the top two finishers while getting beat a half-length for third.

Trainer Christophe Clement is keeping Disco Partner, third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, in the barn, but he will run White Flag, who has sprinted on turf in three of his last four starts. He comes out of a third-place finish in the Nearctic at Woodbine over soft turf.

“He’s not as accomplished as Disco Partner, but he’s a nice 3-year-old, improving all year, and the plan was always to run there if he came out of the Woodbine race in good shape,” Clement said.

Blind Ambition has sandwiched two sprint wins on turf around a fifth-place finish in the Better Talk Now Stakes going a mile at Saratoga.

“I think he’s kind of found his specialty in sprinting on the turf,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “This race is coming up pretty competitive but I’d imagine he’d have a legitimate pace to run at as well.”

Spring to the Sky, Dowse’s Beach, and Summation Time as well as Bucchero will likely be forwardly placed.

McGaughey looks to continue roll

Trainer Shug McGaughey looks to continue his recent run of success when he sends out My Impression against six rivals in Saturday’s $150,000 Forever Together Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the outer turf course.

Last week, McGaughey won races on three consecutive days here, including the $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes with Fire Away, who had previous success over Aqueduct’s turf. My Impression is 2 for 4 over Aqueduct’s turf. More importantly, My Impression is in good form, coming off a win in a stakes at Kentucky Downs in September and a neck loss to Off Limits under Jose Ortiz in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont on Oct. 28.

“My Impression runs good about everywhere, but I do like the idea that she’s gone over there and run well,” McGaughey said. “I think she likes a little give in the turf. The other day we got beat by a pretty good filly. Jose thought he made a mistake trying to go around. She’s done well. I think it’s a good spot to run her in.”

Ortiz will be back aboard My Impression on Saturday.

The competition will come from the Chad Brown-trained pair of Elysea’s World and Penajde, who were noses apart when third and fourth in the Athenia.

Winter, Bishop’s Pond, Sweet Sandy, and Not Taken complete the field.