Bustin Shout should fall into a stalking trip

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though speed figures may indicate Bustin Shout is faster on the turf than dirt, the bulk of his success has come on the main track. While his previous success has come on the front end, Bustin Shout has, out of necessity, become a stalking type.

Thursday, Bustin Shout looks to have some pace to stalk in a seven-furlong first-level allowance race that serves as the feature on Aqueduct’s eight-race program.

Bustin Shout, a 5-year-old gelding by Bustin Stones, is 5 for 13 on dirt while 1 for 5 on turf. In October at Belmont, he won an off-the-turf second-level New York-bred allowance before getting beat a head in a six-furlong turf race at Aqueduct on Nov. 20.

Most recently, he was third behind Fed Funds and Foolish Ghost in this same condition going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt on Dec. 11. And, as trainer Bruce Levine noted, jockey Kendrick Carmouche lost an iron early in that race.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

“This horse used to be really good on the lead but he’s been sitting off it and running okay,” Levine said.

Levine said the stalking tactics came as a result of Bustin Shout’s post draw. In his last seven races, he has drawn the extreme outside five times and once he was post 8 of 9.

“I’ve never seen a horse that has speed that draws outside all the time,” Levine said.

Thursday, Bustin Shout will break from post 4. He will have the speedy Foolish Ghost inside of him in post 2.

Foolish Ghost set the pace in that Dec. 11 race but was caught late by the improving Fed Funds. Trainer Ray Handal is a little concerned about the seven furlongs for Foolish Ghost, though he did beat $25,000 claimers at that distance in June.

“The last time he put everybody away and the one horse making up ground came up the inside and got us,” Handal said. “There doesn’t look to be as much speed on paper as last time. This horse just goes fast regardless.”

The other speed in the field could be provided by Zaevion and maybe More Graytful, who breaks from the rail.

Morning Breez may appreciate getting back to a fast track.